Mirror Neurons and Magical EFT Therapy Bears

Magic Buttons Bear

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) is a form of alternative therapy that

purports to manipulate the body's energy field by tapping on acupuncture points while a specific traumatic memory is focused on, in order to alleviate a psychological problem. Critics have described the theory behind EFT as pseudoscientific and have suggested that any utility stems from its more traditional cognitive components, such as the placebo effect, distraction from negative thoughts, rather than from manipulation of meridians.

EFT, a form of Thought Field Therapy (TFT), has been thoroughly debunked as pseudoscience by the Skeptical Inquirer:

Can We Really Tap Our Problems Away?

. . .EFT is very similar to TFT, except that it employs one simplified and ubiquitous tapping procedure instead of applying different algorithms to treat different problems. On his Web site, [Gary] Craig¹ asserts that Callahan’s reliance on differing algorithms is unnecessary because he has witnessed TFT therapists tap in the wrong order or apply the wrong algorithm to the particular problem and still obtain improvements. Craig’s anecdotal evidence appears to contradict Callahan’s anecdotal evidence. Furthermore, Craig extends his tapping therapy far beyond the realm of mental health, reporting testimonials from individuals who claim to have successfully used EFT to treat everything from autism to warts and various other medical problems with positive results...

A scientifically minded investigator would have then taken Craig’s observations a step further and tested a completely "placebo” algorithm which did not tap on any supposed energy meridians to see if it produced similar results. However, Craig reports that he has never carried out this simple experiment nor does he know of anyone who has. Furthermore, Craig speculates that a placebo algorithm may be impossible because tapping anywhere on the body will affect the body’s energy meridians. This position conveniently renders Craig’s theory unfalsifiable and therefore outside the realm of science.

EFT therapists can act as surrogates, tapping on themselves to cure the problems of others. But even more fun than that, why use yourself as a surrogate when you can tap on a cute magical teddy bear? Really and truly? According to Craig:

It is easily explainable in spiritual terms (we are all connected) and through the findings of quantum physics.

But it would behoove him to read a physics textbook, as well as the Skeptic's Dictionary: "This is the golden rule for New Age quacks: when in doubt, quote Einstein and mention quantum physics... What Gary forgets to tell us is that the so-called subtle energy of acupuncture has nothing in common with the energy in E=mc². When you unblock that kind of energy you get nuclear weapons or power, not miraculous health cures."

EFT therapists have also resorted to those trendy media favorites -- mirror neurons! -- to explain their quackery:

HOW CAN THE BEARS WORK?

Perhaps one explanation is Mirror Neurons.

It's been shown in scientific experiments that when one animal is doing something such as eating a banana, another animal who is merely watching will have the same neurons lighting up in their brains as the animal who is doing the activity.

Likewise, in tests done with acupuncture, when needles are being inserted into points on one person, the same points are lighting up on a person who is only observing. In the case of the Magical Bears, we might conclude that when you are tapping on the bear, as you tap, your points would be lighting up as well.

hat tip: AA

Everyone knows what mirror neurons are, those darlings of the pop neuroscience world. First observed in the ventral premotor area F5 of macaque monkeys, mirror neurons increase their rate of firing when the animal performs an action, and when the animal watches someone else perform the action (Rizzolati et al, 1996). These "monkey see, monkey do" neurons have taken on a life far beyond their originally postulated role in imitation. However, not everyone believes that mirror neurons can account for all aspects of human language, culture, and social cognition -- from empathy to altruism to autism to aesthetics to

certain listeners' misattribution of anger in the music of avant garde jazz saxophonists (Gridley & Hoff, 2006)

-- as explained by Alison Gopnik [see also The Neurocritic, Mixing Memory, Neurofuture, et al.]:

The idea that these particular cells might underlie a fundamental human impulse [altruism] reflects the emergence of a new scientific myth. Like a traditional myth, it captures intuitions about the human condition through vivid metaphors.

As long-time readers might know, mirror neurons have been a popular topic of ridicule throughout the entire four year history of this blog. For your celebratory reading pleasure, here's The Neurocritic's mirror neuron œuvre:

Neuromarketing and "the Super Bowl Brain Scans"

Neurofeedback in Autism

Spindle Neurons: The Next New Thing?

An "Endophenotype" For Sexual Orientation?

Mirror Neurons Control The Universe

Mirror Neurons in Primary Motor Cortex?

Mirror Neurons Control Hard-ons?

Waves of Mu

Spanner or Sex Object?

I Feel Your Pain, I REALLY Do: Synaesthesia for Another's Pain


Footnote

¹ "Gary Craig is not a licensed health professional and offers EFT as an ordained minister and as a personal performance coach. Please consult qualified health practitioners regarding your use of EFT."

Twitticism: "Mirror neurons can explain everything. We can all go home now."