1st Edition
The Unconscious A bridge between psychoanalysis and cognitive neuroscience
The Unconscious explores the critical interdisciplinary dialogue between psychoanalysis and contemporary cognitive neuroscience. Characterised by Freud as ‘the science of the unconscious mind’, psychoanalysis has traditionally been viewed as a solely psychological discipline. However recent developments in neuroscience, such as the use of neuroimaging techniques to investigate the working brain, have stimulated and intensified the dialogue between psychoanalysis and these related mental sciences. This book explores the relevance of these discussions for our understanding of unconscious mental processes.
Chapters present clinical case studies of unconscious dynamics, alongside theoretical and scientific papers in key areas of current debate and development. These include discussions of the differences between conceptualisations of ‘the unconscious’ in psychoanalysis and cognitive science, whether the core concepts of psychoanalysis are still plausible in light of recent findings, and how such understandings of the unconscious are still relevant to treating patients in psychotherapy today. These questions are explored by leading interdisciplinary researchers as well as practising psychoanalysts and psychotherapists.
This book aims to bridge the gap between psychoanalysis and cognitive neuroscience, to enable a better understanding of researchers’ and clinicians’ engagements with the key topic of the unconscious. It will be of key interest to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of psychoanalysis, cognitive science, neuroscience and traumatology. It will also appeal to practising psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and clinicians.
Introduction 1. The Unconscious – a contemporary interdisciplinary dialogue: some introductory remarks (Marianne Leuzinger-Bohleber and Mark Solms) 2. "The Unsconsious" In psychoanalysis and neuroscience: An integrated approach to the cognitive unconscious (Mark Solms) Part I: Conceptual, historical and clinical studies 3. Unconscious Fantasy: An Attempt at Conceptual Integration (Werner Bohleber, Juan Pablo Jiménez, Sverre Varvin and Samuel Zysman) 4. Reply to W. Bohleber and Colleagues’ Paper on Unconscious Phantasy (Riccardo Steiner) 5. Reflections on Primitive Reparation, the Repetition Compulsion and the Unconscious Processing of Guilt (Heinz Weiss) Part II: Scientific Perspectives from Psychoanalysis and Cognitive Neuroscience 6. The Unconscious in Cognitive Science. A few suggestions for psychoanalysis (Carlo Semenza) 7. I am therefore I think (Karl Friston) 8. Struggling with unconscious, embodied memories in a third psychoanalysis with a traumatized patient recovered from severe poliomyelitis. A dialogue between Psychoanalysis and Embodied Cognitive Science (Marianne Leuzinger-Bohleber and Rolf Pfeifer) Part III: Clinical Studies 9. Trauma, Dreams and Transformations in Psychoanalysis. Combining Clinical and Extra-Clinical Research in an EEG/fMRI Study (Tamara Fischmann, Michael Russ, Margarete Schoett and Marianne Leuzinger-Bohleber) 10. Non-verbal memories of trauma in early childhood: conscious or unconscious? (Theodore J. Gaensbauer) Part IV: Conclusions 11. Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives (Robert M. Galatzer-Levy)
Biography
Mark Solms is Professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, President of the South African Psychoanalytical Association, Co-Chair of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society and Chair of the Research Committee of the International Psychoanalytical Association.
Simon E. Arnold, Dipl.-Psych., is research associate at the Sigmund Freud Institute, Frankfurt a.M. He studied psychology, literary studies, art history and philosophy in Konstanz, Paris and Beer Sheva.
Marianne Leuzinger-Bohleber is Professor of Psychoanalysis at the University of Kassel, Germany, Head Director of the Sigmund Freud Institute, Frankfurt/Main, Germany., training analyst of the German Psychoanalytical Association (DPV) and Vice-Chair for Europe of the Research Committee of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA).
