Computational annealing as mechanism in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

The computational annealing model offers a plausible neurophysiological mechanism to account for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing’s (EMDR) psychotherapeutic effectiveness. The model is informed by analogy to the physical annealing of metals and the related computational method of simulated annealing. It proposes that observed instances of chaotic activity and criticality within the nervous system serve to loosen constraints within memory networks, allowing them to reorganize in a direction of optimal internal coherence and harmony. The role of eye movements is to generate corollary discharge within relevant brain areas, inducing transient increases in criticality within working memory; effectively raising the computational temperature and facilitating informational and energetic flow towards optimal resolution of trauma related memories. Raising the computational temperature overcomes constraints maintaining fragmented and discordant cognitive schemas, enabling fuller integration with the broader sense of self. Computational annealing provides an outline of a conceptual bridge between observations made at the microscopic neurophysiological level, and those made at the macroscopic, behavioral level of description.