An affordable, user-friendly device for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, for self-administered or practitioner-assisted sessions.
The prototype delivers bilateral stimulation (BLS) through synchronized LED lights and vibration motors. BLS has shown effectiveness in helping people process trauma and manage stress through eye movements and tactile feedback.
Key features
- LED bilateral stimulation. Two strips of eight individually addressable LEDs alternate left and right, prompting eye movement that mimics the natural REM cycle.
- Vibration motors. Two motors give tactile feedback in sync with the LED transitions, stimulating each side of the body in turn.
- Customizable settings. LED color, brightness and vibration timing can be tuned to each person’s therapeutic needs.
How it works
- Setup. Power the Arduino and the motor driver board and check every connection.
- Cycle. The left strip and motor fire first, then the right, and the alternation continues.
- Adjust. Change the delay values in the code to set the left-to-right speed.
Components
- Arduino Uno R3 controls the LED and motor sequences.
- WS2812B LED strips, eight addressable LEDs each, on pins D2 (left) and D3 (right).
- Two 12V DC vibration motors for haptic feedback, driven through pins 5 and 6.
- Motor driver board switches the motors from the Arduino outputs, powered by a separate 12V supply.
What’s next
- A mobile app to control speed, color and intensity remotely.
- More stimulus modes, including audio cues and new haptic patterns.
- A rechargeable battery option for portable, wireless use.
This prototype is a step toward a fully customizable therapeutic device. Careful tuning of visual and tactile feedback creates an immersive BLS experience intended to support emotional processing and stress reduction.