Effect of Bilateral Eye Movements On Frontal Interhemispheric Gamma EEG Coherence: Implications for EMDR Therapy

Authors

Ruth Propper, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Jenna Pierce, San Francisco State University
Mark W. Geisler, University of ToledoFollow
Stephen D. Christman, University of Toledo
Nathan Bellorado, Merrimack CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2007

Journal / Book Title

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Abstract

The use of bilateral eye movements (EMs) is an important component of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. The neural mechanisms underlying EMDR remain unclear. However, prior behavioral work looking at the effects of bilateral EMs on the retrieval of episodic memories suggests that the EMs enhance interhemispheric interaction. The present study examined the effects of the EMs used in EMDR on interhemispheric electroencephalogram coherence. Relative to noneye-movement controls, engaging in bilateral EMs led to decreased interhemispheric gamma electroencephalogram coherence. Implications for future work on EMDR and episodic memory are discussed.

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0b013e318142cf73

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Propper, Ruth; Pierce, Jenna; Geisler, Mark W.; Christman, Stephen D.; and Bellorado, Nathan, "Effect of Bilateral Eye Movements On Frontal Interhemispheric Gamma EEG Coherence: Implications for EMDR Therapy" (2007). Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 192.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/psychology-facpubs/192