The Neuroscience Behind EMDR
The Neuroscience Behind EMDR Therapy Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process traumatic memories so they become less distressing over time. While researchers continue to study exactly how EMDR works, advances in neuroscience help explain why traumatic memories can feel so overwhelming—and how healing is possible. How Trauma Affects the Brain When we experience a traumatic event, the brain shifts into survival mode. Several key brain regions become involved: The Amygdala: The Brain's Alarm System The amygdala detects potential danger and activates the body's fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response. During trauma, it becomes highly active, releasing stress hormones that prepare the body to survive. After trauma, the amygdala can remain overly sensitive, causing the brain to react to reminders of the event as though the danger is still present. The Hippocampus: The Memory Organizer The hippocampus helps organi...
