Neuroimaging investigations of the effects of psychotherapies treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), have reported findings consistent with modifications in cerebral blood flow (CBF; single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT]), in neuronal volume and density (magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]), and more recently in brain electric signal (electroencephalography [EEG]). Additionally in the recent past, EMDR-related neurobiological changes were monitored by EEG during therapy itself and showed a shift of the maximal activation from emotional limbic to cortical cognitive brain regions. This was the first time in which neurobiological changes occurring during any psychotherapy session have been reported, making EMDR the first psychotherapy with a proven neurobiological effect. The purpose of this article was to review the results of functional and structural changes taking place at PTSD treatment and presented during the period of 1999–2012 by various research groups. The reported pathophysiological changes are presented by neuropsychological technique and implemented methodology and critically analyzed.
Date
March 1, 2013
Creator(s)
Marco Pagani, Göran Högberg, Isabel Fernandez, Alberto Siracusano
Practice & Methods
Neurobiology
Extent
10 pages
Publisher
Springer Publishing Company
Rights
Copyright © 2013 EMDR International Association
APA Citation
Pagani, M., Högberg, G., Fernandez, I., & Siracusano, A. (2013). Correlates of EMDR Therapy in Functional and Structural Neuroimaging: A Critical Summary of Recent Findings. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 7(1), 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.7.1.29
Series
7
Installment
1
Audience
EMDR Therapists
Language
English
Content Type
Meta-analyses/Systematic Reviews
Original Source
Journal of EMDR Practice and Research
Access Type
Open Access