Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

An Initial Investigation of Neural Changes in Overweight Adults with Food Cravings after Emotional Freedom Techniques

2018; Volume: 4; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.21926/obm.icm.1901010

2573-4393

Peta Stapleton, Craig Buchan, Ian Mitchell, Yasmin McGrath, Paul Gorton, Brett Carter,

Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment

Background: This pilot randomised clinical trial investigated the effect of an Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) intervention on brain activation in response to food craving stimuli using functional magnetic resonance imaging. EFT is a brief stress reduction technique which involves stating a cognitive statement with somatic tapping on acupressure points. Method: Fifteen overweight/obese adults were allocated to a four-week group EFT treatment or control condition. Random repeating images of high-calorie food designed to engage parts of the brain were presented during the pre and post scans. Results: Marked reduction in the BOLD response in Superior Temporal Gyrus and lateral orbito-frontal cortex occurred for the EFT treatment group only. The control group showed continued activation in these areas. Conclusion: The findings indicated EFT may decrease limbic region brain activity and reduce food related symptoms in overweight/obese individuals. Recommendations for more comprehensive trials are discussed.