Affect desensitization:  A possible function of REMs in both waking and sleeping states

Recent evidence (1) that rapid eye movements (REMs) elicited systemically during psychotherapy (Eye Movement Desensitization/Reprocessing (EMD/R) produce immediate and lasting alleviation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms suggests that the REMs of REM sleep may serve a similiar affect desensitization function (1.2). Although little is known about how EMD/R works, preliminary, positive results from an independent replication (3) and several independent clinical case studies (4.5) have been reported. Exploration of the relationships between EMD/R and REM sleep may thus prove useful in understanding how both RE/R and REM sleep function to modify affect.

Journal

English

Tore Nielsen

Nielsen, T. (1991). Affect desensitization: A possible function of REMs in both waking and sleeping states. Sleep Research, 20, 10