Before and After EMDR: SPECT Imaging

The SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography) is a diagnostic method capable of capturing images and measurements of the brain, focusing on mapping healthy areas and regions with significant impairments in brain activity.

A study conducted by Amen Clinics (2017) aimed to capture brain images of individuals with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) to map changes in brain activity patterns. The research noted that, compared to a brain with "normal" activity, the classic scan of a brain with PTSD showed exacerbated activity in certain areas, specifically in the limbic system, which is responsible for the emotional functioning of humans.

Normal brain

Brain affected by PTSD

The study focused on the case of Steven, a 33-year-old patient with a long history of past and recent traumas. Brain images were captured using SPECT during three stages of the patient’s longitudinal follow-up: before treatment, during the first EMDR session, and after 8 hours of treatment. It was found that, in the initial brain image, Steven displayed a classic PTSD scan. During the first EMDR session, improvement in brain activity patterns was already noticeable, followed by a significant advancement after 8 hours of treatment.

Before EMDR

During the first session of EMDR

EMDR, unlike other psychotherapeutic approaches, allows the brain to return to its normal activity and initiate a process of self-regeneration, not only emotionally but also definitively through neuromodulation.

References

AMEN CLINICS, EMDR Therapy. <https://www.amenclinics.com/services/emdr-therapy/>.