Eye left to right

Andrew Huberman has shared insights on how certain eye movements can be used as a behavioral treatment for trauma. Specifically, he talks about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), where lateralized eye movements are used in the clinic to help patients recount traumatic events while moving their eyes from side to side. This technique helps to dissociate the emotional experience of the trauma, allowing patients to recall those experiences without feeling the same stress 1 2.

He further explains that lateralized eye movements can suppress the activity of the amygdala, a brain region involved in threat detection, stress, anxiety, and fear, and that this type of eye movement is instinctive when moving through space 2. This seemingly simple physical action has been shown to have psychological benefits, which is why EMDR has become a fairly widespread practice in treating trauma.