Bilateral rhythmic stimulation as a possible modulator of meningeal lymphatic flow: A regulatory T cell-centered neuroimmune hypothesis of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

This study proposes that bilateral rhythmic stimulation in EMDR may influence long-term brain and behavior changes by altering autonomic balance and neuroimmune interactions—particularly involving regulatory T cells—offering a testable framework for future research.

Article Abstract

“Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an established therapeutic intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions, yet its neurobiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. While prevailing models emphasize cognitive processes such as working memory taxation and memory reconsolidation, these accounts may not fully explain the durability and generalization of therapeutic effects. Here, we propose a hypothesis in which bilateral rhythmic stimulation associated with EMDR modulates neuroimmune interactions through state-dependent changes in autonomic balance and meningeal lymphatic dynamics. Within this framework, regulatory T cells are conceptualized as contributors to baseline neuroimmune tone, influencing microglial activation states, synaptic stability, and network-level regulation. By integrating findings from autonomic physiology, lymphatic biology, and neuroimmunology, this hypothesis generates testable predictions linking behavioral interventions to sustained neural and behavioral outcomes. The model is intended to guide future experimental investigation rather than assert definitive causal pathways.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Milovanov, I. (2026). Bilateral rhythmic stimulation as a possible modulator of meningeal lymphatic flow: A regulatory T cell-centered neuroimmune hypothesis of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 20:1758529. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2026.1758529