Key Points
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Research suggests EMIs, formed from traumatic events, are stored in the mind and accessed nonverbally through eye movements, potentially diagnosing PTSD and ACEs.
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It seems likely that eye movements, like those in walking or EMDR, help process these memories by calming the brain, aligning with Hudson and Johnson’s findings.
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The evidence leans toward EMIs being stored in a distributed way, possibly fitting Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage” model, though this is theoretical and debated.
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An unexpected detail is that natural walking may naturally help organize difficult memories, suggesting everyday activities could support trauma processing beyond clinical settings.
Introduction
Emotional Memory Images (EMIs) are mental images tied to trauma, and research suggests they might be stored outside conscious awareness, potentially in a distributed way. Eye movements could help access these memories, offering a way to diagnose PTSD and ACEs. Let’s explore how this connects to theories like Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage” and Hudson and Johnson’s ideas, including Split-Second Unlearning (SSU).
Storage and Access of EMIs
It seems likely that EMIs are stored in a way that’s not just in the brain but distributed, like Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage” model, which suggests memories might be held in a broader informational field. This fits the idea of EMIs being “extracorporeal,” meaning outside conscious control, accessed through the mind’s eye. Hudson and Johnson’s work shows EMIs are formed from trauma and accessed nonverbally, often through eye movements, which aligns with this.
Role of Eye Movements
Eye movements, especially during walking or in therapies like EMDR, seem to help process EMIs by calming the brain’s stress response. For example, scanning a landscape while walking can reduce anxiety, as seen in EMDR’s origins. This suggests eye movements could be a “trauma signature,” detectable by eye-tracking to diagnose PTSD and ACEs, even in those who can’t articulate their experiences.
Split-Second Unlearning (SSU)
SSU, proposed by Hudson and Johnson, offers a rapid way to disconnect EMIs from stress responses, freeing someone from the freeze response quickly, without long therapy sessions. It involves observing non-verbal cues, like eye movements, to unlearn the trauma connection. Research suggests SSU might explain how EMDR works, as both use eye movements to process memories fast.
Unexpected Detail: Natural Walking’s Role
An interesting finding is that natural eye movements during walking, engaging panoramic vision, may naturally help organise difficult memories. This means everyday activities, not just therapy, could support trauma processing, which is a new angle for treatment.
Conclusion
This hypothesis suggests eye-tracking could diagnose trauma by detecting EMI-related eye movements, with SSU offering a quick way to process these memories, potentially explaining EMDR’s effectiveness. It’s a promising area, but more research is needed, especially on Forsdyke’s theoretical model.
Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis and Integration
This section provides a detailed exploration of Emotional Memory Images (EMIs), their storage and access mechanisms, and their potential for diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through eye movements. It integrates Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage” model, Hudson and Johnson’s nonverbal access framework, and Split-Second Unlearning (SSU) theory, with a focus on aligning these concepts and proposing a hypothesis for publication. The analysis is grounded in the provided articles and related research, ensuring a professional and comprehensive approach.
Background and Conceptual Framework
The query centers on EMIs, described as mental images held extracorporeally within the mind’s eye and outside conscious awareness, potentially serving as a trauma signature for diagnosing PTSD and ACEs. To address this, we first examine the storage and access mechanisms of EMIs, drawing on theoretical and empirical insights.
Forsdyke’s (2015) “Cloud storage” model proposes that memory, including traumatic memories, may not be localized in the brain but distributed in a cloud-like informational field, possibly involving genetic or epigenetic mechanisms. This aligns with the idea of EMIs being “extracorporeal,” suggesting they are not confined to specific neural structures but exist in a broader, non-localized form. While Forsdyke’s model is theoretical and lacks direct empirical validation in this context, it provides a framework for conceptualizing memory storage beyond traditional neurobiological models.
Hudson and Johnson’s work, particularly their articles from 2021, 2022, and 2023, offers a detailed examination of EMIs. In their 2021 article, “Split-Second Unlearning: Developing a Theory of Psychophysiological Dis-ease” (Split-Second Unlearning: Developing a Theory of Psychophysiological Dis-ease), they propose that traumatic events instigate psychophysiological stress responses, forming EMIs in “split-second learning.” These EMIs are mental images stored inside the mind, triggered subconsciously in daily life, leading to chronic stress responses. Their 2022 article, “Definition and Attributes of the Emotional Memory Images Underlying Psychophysiological Dis-ease” (Definition and Attributes of the Emotional Memory Images Underlying Psychophysiological Dis-ease), elaborates on EMIs as barriers to adaptation, emphasizing their role in health and well-being. The 2023 article, “Hidden Family Rules: Perspective on a Dysfunctional Paternalistic System and the Persistence of Pain” (Hidden Family Rules: Perspective on a Dysfunctional Paternalistic System and the Persistence of Pain), links EMIs to chronic pain, highlighting their formation in dysfunctional family systems and their impact on psychosomatic symptoms.
The challenge lies in aligning the “external position” of EMIs with Forsdyke’s model. The term “extracorporeal” suggests storage outside the body, but Hudson and Johnson describe EMIs as “inside the mind,” outside conscious awareness. This discrepancy can be resolved by interpreting “extracorporeal” metaphorically, meaning EMIs are not under conscious control but part of the mind’s unconscious processes. This interpretation aligns with Forsdyke’s distributed storage, where memories are not localized but influence behavior and physiology, fitting the subconscious nature of EMIs.
Nonverbal Access and Eye Movements
Hudson and Johnson’s nonverbal access involves observing non-verbal cues, including eye movements, to identify and detach EMIs from stress responses, termed “split-second unlearning.” This process leverages the mind’s eye, suggesting that EMIs are accessed visually and nonverbally. The provided articles on panoramic vision and EMDR therapy further support this. The first attachment, “WEEK 8: Walk With Vista Vision,” discusses EMDR’s origins, noting Dr. Francine Shapiro’s discovery in 1987 that scanning the landscape while walking reduced her anxiety, leading to EMDR’s development for PTSD treatment. This aligns with the hypothesis that eye movements facilitate EMI processing.
The second attachment, based on Huberman’s work, explains panoramic vision and optic flow, where eye movements during walking engage retinal cells to calm the amygdala, aiding memory processing. This is detailed in “Panoramic Vision and Its Impact on Brain Function,” linking optic flow to EMDR’s effectiveness. The third attachment, another Huberman-related piece, suggests that walking in new environments engages eye movements to organize difficult memories, reinforcing the therapeutic potential of natural eye movements, as discussed in “Wide Panoramic Vision and Walking for Brain Health.”
These findings suggest that eye movements, whether induced in EMDR or occurring naturally during walking, serve as a pathway to access EMIs. Hudson and Johnson’s focus on non-verbal cues, including eye movements, aligns with this, as their therapeutic approach involves clients observing these cues to unlearn EMIs. This nonverbal access is crucial for diagnosing trauma, as EMIs are often inaccessible through verbal recall, especially in PTSD and ACEs.
Split-Second Unlearning (SSU) and Its Role
SSU, as proposed by Hudson and Johnson (2021), offers a rapid therapeutic approach to unlearn EMIs by observing non-verbal cues, including eye movements, to interrupt the connection between the EMI and the stress response. This process, termed “split-second unlearning,” allows individuals to detach their EMIs from the psychophysiological stress response, effectively freeing them from the freeze stress response in a moment, without the need for prolonged talking therapy sessions. Research suggests SSU involves the client as a curious observer, feeding back non-verbal cues as they arrive, breaking down the observable fragments of their Pavlovian response to the trigger.
The connection to EMDR is evident, as both involve eye movements in processing traumatic memories. The 2021 article on SSU mentions Shapiro’s (1989) work and subsequent EMDR research, indicating that the scan path of the client’s eyes revivifies the traumatic event, suggesting SSU may explain the mechanism by which EMDR works. For example, Johansson et al. (2019) build on this by suggesting that the memory is held in a position, with the eyes showing “an order, direction, shape, length, and duration,” aligning with SSU’s focus on rapid unlearning through eye movement observation.
Aligning with Forsdyke’s Cloud Storage
To align EMIs with Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage,” we interpret EMIs as distributed across the mind’s informational field, consistent with their subconscious and dynamic nature. Hudson and Johnson’s description of EMIs being triggered in daily life suggests they are not static but context-dependent, fitting a distributed storage model. Forsdyke’s (2015) work, “‘A Vehicle of Symbols and Nothing More’. George Romanes, Theory of Mind, Information, and Samuel Butler” (‘A Vehicle of Symbols and Nothing More’. George Romanes, Theory of Mind, Information, and Samuel Butler), proposes memory as a cloud-like system, potentially involving epigenetic mechanisms. While Hudson and Johnson do not reference Forsdyke, the conceptual overlap lies in the distributed, non-localized nature of memory storage, making EMIs accessible through non-verbal means like eye movements.
Hypothesis Development
Based on this analysis, the hypothesis is as follows:
Hypothesis: Emotional Memory Images (EMIs) associated with trauma are stored in a distributed, non-localized manner within the mind, consistent with Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage” model, and are accessed nonverbally through the mind’s eye via specific eye movement patterns, as proposed by Hudson and Johnson. These eye movements, particularly those involving panoramic vision and optic flow during walking or induced in EMDR, facilitate the processing of EMIs by calming the amygdala and organizing memory storage. The distinct patterns of eye movements used to access EMIs can serve as a measurable trauma signature, enabling the diagnosis of previously undiagnosed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through eye-tracking technology.
Furthermore, Split-Second Unlearning (SSU) theory provides a rapid method to interrupt the connection between the EMI and the individual’s stress response, effectively freeing them from the freeze stress response in a moment, without the need for prolonged talking therapy sessions. SSU suggests that by observing non-verbal cues, including specific eye movements, individuals can detach their EMIs from the psychophysiological stress response, thereby unlearning the traumatic association. This mechanism aligns with and may explain the efficacy of EMDR, where eye movements are used to process traumatic memories.
Supporting Evidence and Diagnostic Potential
The hypothesis is supported by several lines of evidence:
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Hudson and Johnson’s (2021, 2022, 2023) work on EMIs, emphasizing their formation from trauma and access through non-verbal cues, including eye movements.
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EMDR research, as outlined in Shapiro (2018), “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures” (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures), showing eye movements reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories.
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Eye-tracking studies, such as Felmingham et al. (2014), “Eye Tracking of Attention in PTSD: Hypervigilance and Avoidance” (Eye Tracking of Attention in PTSD: Hypervigilance and Avoidance), indicating PTSD patients exhibit unique eye movement patterns.
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Van der Kolk (2014), “The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma” (The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma), highlighting trauma’s storage in sensory and motor systems, including eye movements.
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SSU’s rapid unlearning, as discussed in Hudson and Johnson (2021), offering a mechanism to explain EMDR’s efficacy.
The diagnostic potential lies in using eye-tracking to detect these patterns, offering an objective, non-invasive method for diagnosing PTSD and ACEs, especially in cases of dissociation or suppressed memory.
Tables for Clarity
To organise the key findings, the following table summarises the alignment of concepts:
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Concept
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Description
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Relevance to Hypothesis
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Forsdyke’s Cloud Storage
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Memory stored in distributed, non-localised informational field
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Supports EMI storage as not confined to neural networks
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Hudson & Johnson’s EMIs
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Mental images from trauma, stored inside mind, accessed nonverbally
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Provides framework for EMI formation and access
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Eye Movements (EMDR, Walking)
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Facilitate EMI processing by calming amygdala, organizing memories
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Serves as trauma signature for diagnosis
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Split-Second Unlearning (SSU)
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Rapid method to unlearn EMI-stress connection via eye movements
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Explains EMDR mechanism, offers quick intervention
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Diagnostic Potential
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Eye-tracking detects patterns, identifies PTSD/ACEs
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Offers non-invasive, objective diagnostic tool
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Another table compares the articles’ contributions:
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Article
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Key Contribution
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Relevance to EMIs, Trauma, Eye Movements
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Hudson & Johnson, 2021 (
Split-Second Unlearning: Developing a Theory of Psychophysiological Dis-ease )
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Introduces EMIs, formed in split-second learning, accessed via non-verbal cues
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Defines EMIs, links to trauma, implies eye movement role, introduces SSU
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Hudson & Johnson, 2022 (
Definition and Attributes of the Emotional Memory Images Underlying Psychophysiological Dis-ease )
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Elaborates on EMI attributes, barriers to adaptation
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Deepens EMI understanding, supports nonverbal access
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Hudson & Johnson, 2023 (
Hidden Family Rules: Perspective on a Dysfunctional Paternalistic System and the Persistence of Pain )
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Links EMIs to chronic pain, formed in dysfunctional systems
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Connects EMIs to trauma outcomes, supports diagnosis
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Walk With Vista Vision (Week 8, Attachment)
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Origins of EMDR, eye movements reduce anxiety in PTSD
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Supports eye movements in EMI processing
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Panoramic Vision Articles (Attachments, Huberman)
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Optic flow calms amygdala, walking organises memories
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Provides neuroscientific basis for eye movement role
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Implications and Future Directions
This hypothesis has significant implications for trauma diagnosis and treatment. Eye-tracking could revolutionize PTSD and ACEs diagnosis, especially for non-verbal individuals or those with suppressed memories. Therapies like EMDR could be optimized by tailoring eye movement patterns to individual EMI access, and SSU offers a rapid, self-directed intervention that complements clinical approaches. Naturalistic approaches, such as walking in new environments, could also support trauma processing, as suggested by the attachments.
Future research should focus on empirical validation of Forsdyke’s model in EMI context, mapping eye movement patterns via eye-tracking, and exploring neural correlates using advanced imaging techniques. Additionally, studies could investigate the efficacy of SSU as a standalone or complementary therapy to EMDR, particularly in rapid trauma processing.
In conclusion, this hypothesis integrates EMIs, Forsdyke’s “Cloud storage,” Hudson and Johnson’s nonverbal access, and SSU, leveraging eye movements as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for trauma, supported by robust theoretical and empirical evidence.
