EMDR & Trauma Memories: A brief review of AIP theory

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic intervention based on Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) theory (Hase, 2021). AIP theory focuses on the ways in which memories are stored and processed in the brain and EMDR is developed to specifically remove obstacles that inhibit the brain’s normal system of processing (Hill, 2020). AIP theory first considers the traditional method of input processing from the brain: a stimulus is perceived, sent to the hippocampus, divided in two, and tagged; the divided stimulus is processed logically (via the prefrontal cortex), and emotionally (via the amygdala and hypothalamus); these processes are completed and the divided “tagged” parts are brought together in the temporal cortex where long term adaptive memories are consolidated and stored into existing neural memory networks (Hill, 2020). 

AIP theory posits that this process is disturbed when the experience being perceived by the brain is dysregulating, urgent, overwhelming, or threatening, such as those experienced by trauma survivors (Hill, 2020). AIP suggests that, due to the impact of fear and stress on the brain, the prefrontal cortex stops processing the stimulus, meaning the emotional processing of the limbic system is occurring singularly before reaching the temporal cortex (Hill, 2020). This results in the physical sensations and emotions of the stimulus being processed by the brain while the logical information, such as the causation, chronology, and facts, are left unprocessed (Hill, 2020). This lack of congruence in the processing cycle results in maladaptive memory storage (Hill, 2020). 

AIP suggests that when these processing errors take place, individuals look back on their stored memory with simple access to the emotionally processed information, but without the crucial information associated with the logical fragment of the memory (Hill, 2020). AIP concludes that until the logical and emotional fragments of the stimulus or memory are reunited, the memory cannot be fully processed and understood (Hill, 2020). AIP states that maladaptively stored memories can result in the individual experiencing trauma symptoms including hyperarousal, extreme emotional responses, re-experiencing of memories, intrusive memories, dissociation, flashbacks, avoidance, hopelessness, aggression, numbing, guilt, isolation, nightmares, and severe impairments to functioning (Hill, 2020). 

AIP suggests that procedures involving bilateral stimulation, such as those protocols associated with EMDR, can activate multiple parts of the brain, ultimately improving communication between the different areas of the brain (Hill, 2020). This improved communication within the brain, while focusing on the adverse experience, can assist the client towards the goal of retrieving the maladaptively stored fragments of their memory and reuniting the fragments to resume the traditional memory storage process (Hill, 2020). The result of this would be the adaptive processed memory taking place of the maladaptive memory (Hill, 2020). This integration allows for trauma memories to be understood more holistically, ultimately decreasing psychological suffering, increasing adaptive behaviours, and easing the client’s access to personal insights, emotions, and positive self-concepts (Hase, 2021; Hill, 2020). 

The practices associated with AIP, namely EMDR, are found to be successful at producing positive therapeutic results in a variety of different settings, with a variety of populations, and amongst those suffering from numerous psychological conditions (Bisson et al., 2013; Hase, 2021). 

References:

Hase, M. (2021). The structure of EMDR therapy: A guide for the therapist. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 660753. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.660753

Hill, M. D. (2020). Adaptive Information Processing Theory: Origins, principles, applications, and evidence. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work, 17(3), 317-331.https://doi.org/10.1080/26408066.2020.1748155