EMDR Neurobiological Foundations Flashcards

The 'freeze' response during trauma is mediated primarily by which neurotransmitter system?

Answer: GABAergic inhibition via dorsal vagal shutdown

The freeze response involves GABAergic inhibition and dorsal vagal system activation, which suppress arousal and movement in the face of inescapable threat.

What does neuroimaging research on EMDR suggest about changes in prefrontal cortex activity after successful treatment?

Answer: Prefrontal cortex activity increases, supporting better top-down regulation of the amygdala

Neuroimaging studies suggest that successful EMDR treatment is associated with increased prefrontal cortex activity, enhancing top-down emotional regulation of the amygdala.

In the context of EMDR and neurobiology, what is 'somatic memory'?

Answer: Trauma encoded in the body as sensations, muscle tension, or autonomic reactions rather than declarative narrative

Somatic memory refers to trauma encoded in the body as physical sensations, tension, or autonomic reactions that can emerge during EMDR processing.

Which concept describes the brain's ability to reorganize itself following successful trauma therapy, including EMDR?

Answer: Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's capacity to form new neural connections and reorganize existing ones, which underlies the long-term changes achieved through EMDR therapy.

What is the role of cortisol in trauma memory, relevant to EMDR treatment?

Answer: High cortisol levels during trauma impair hippocampal function, disrupting normal memory consolidation

Elevated cortisol during trauma impairs hippocampal functioning, disrupting the normal contextualization of memories and contributing to the fragmented, intrusive nature of traumatic memories.

How does 'state-dependent memory' relate to EMDR therapy?

Answer: Clients must be in the same emotional state as the original trauma to access it for processing

State-dependent memory means memories are most accessible when the person is in a similar physiological or emotional state to when they were encoded, which informs EMDR's approach to memory activation.