Can vibratory bilateral stimulation reduce the emotionality and vividness of negative autobiographical memories?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the recommended, evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the effects of eye movements on the desensitization of traumatic memories have been extensively documented, there are less studies on the effectiveness of vibratory bilateral stimulation (VBS), even though this type of stimulation is often used in clinical practice. In the present study, we tested the effect of VBS on the emotionality and vividness of autobiographical negative memories in healthy participants. After selecting two moderate negative memories, participants had to rate one of these memories on emotionality and vividness scales and to recall it four times without any stimulation or with VBS. In the control condition (without stimulation), emotionality ratings increased after recall, whereas vividness remained unchanged. Most importantly, VBS prevented this emotional rise without affecting vividness. We also found that the more participants were distracted by the VBS, the greater was the reduction in emotionality. These findings therefore provide new encouraging empirical evidence in favour of using VBS to reduce the emotional burden of negative autobiographical memories.