EFT Research & Evidence Base 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which neurological mechanism has neuroimaging studies most consistently linked to EFT's calming effects?
- Activation of the prefrontal cortex
- Deactivation of the amygdala (Correct answer)
- Increased hippocampal volume
- Suppression of the anterior cingulate cortex
Correct answer: Deactivation of the amygdala
Neuroimaging and cortisol research indicate that EFT tapping signals the amygdala to down-regulate the fight-or-flight response.
Question 2: A 2012 study by Dawson Church et al. measured cortisol levels before and after EFT. What was the approximate reduction in cortisol found in the EFT group compared to controls?
- 10%
- 24%
- 43% (Correct answer)
- 60%
Correct answer: 43%
Church et al. (2012) found approximately a 43% reduction in cortisol in participants who received EFT, compared to control groups.
Question 3: EFT research categorizes its evidence using APA Division 12 criteria. What label is given to a treatment that has at least two well-designed studies by independent researchers showing efficacy?
- Experimental
- Possibly efficacious
- Efficacious (Correct answer)
- Empirically supported
Correct answer: Efficacious
Under APA Division 12 criteria, a treatment with two or more well-designed independent studies demonstrating efficacy qualifies as 'Efficacious.'
Question 4: Which population was studied in the seminal Sebastian & Nelms (2017) meta-analysis on EFT for PTSD?
- Combat veterans (Correct answer)
- Survivors of natural disasters
- Child abuse survivors
- First responders
Correct answer: Combat veterans
Sebastian & Nelms (2017) conducted a meta-analysis specifically examining EFT for PTSD in veterans, finding large effect sizes.
Question 5: What does 'specificity' mean in the context of EFT acupoint stimulation research?
- EFT works only for specific diagnoses
- Tapping on correct acupoints produces better outcomes than tapping on sham points (Correct answer)
- Each acupoint targets one unique emotion
- EFT must be tailored to individual meridian assessments
Correct answer: Tapping on correct acupoints produces better outcomes than tapping on sham points
Specificity studies test whether the actual acupoints matter; several randomized trials found true acupoints outperform sham points, suggesting active ingredient beyond placebo.
Question 6: In EFT pain research, the Work Stress Study (Church & Brooks, 2010) reported improvements in which two outcome areas alongside physical pain?
- Sleep quality and digestion
- Emotional distress and psychological symptoms (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure and heart rate
- Cognitive function and memory
Correct answer: Emotional distress and psychological symptoms
Church & Brooks (2010) found significant improvements in emotional distress and psychological symptoms, as well as physical pain, after EFT sessions.
Question 7: What is the primary limitation critics cite when evaluating single-group pre/post EFT studies?
- Sample sizes are always too large
- Absence of a randomized control group makes causal inference difficult (Correct answer)
- EFT outcomes cannot be measured quantitatively
- Follow-up periods are universally too long
Correct answer: Absence of a randomized control group makes causal inference difficult
Without a randomized control group, improvements could be attributed to spontaneous recovery, attention effects, or regression to the mean rather than EFT specifically.
EFT Research & Evidence Base 2
Which neurological mechanism has neuroimaging studies most consistently linked to EFT's calming effects?