What is Neuropsychoanalysis?

Many professionals appreciate, at least intellectually, that the mind and brain are one. Like thunder and lightning, each refers to the same object, but from different perspectives. The brain is what we see when we look from the outside in, while the mind comes into light when looking from the inside out.

TherapyRoute.com is proud to share this recording of a day-long workshop with Prof Mark Solms. We thank Prof Solms for his generosity in sharing this with us and appreciate the South African Psychoanalysis Initiative for producing the video.

Session 1: Introduction & Case I

Session 2: Clinical Case II

Session 3: Further Theory & Discussion

The Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation defines neuropsychoanalysis as follows...

"Neuropsychoanalysis explores the interface between neurobiological knowledge and psychoanalytic models of the human mind. As neuroscience maps the brain, from molecules to networks, a common ground has emerged between fields which were separated for too long. Now, with advances in technology that give us a window into an active brain, we can link brain processes with psychoanalytic concepts – ideas that emphasize the deep unconscious layers of the mind, the central role of emotions and interpersonal relations in mental life, and the importance of fantasy and mental representations. Neuroscience rapidly expands our understanding of the neural circuits involved with conscious and unconscious processes, motivation, emotion, self-regulation, memory, interpersonal relations, and more. As we combine these domains, neuropsychoanalysis illuminates how the mind is organized at the deepest levels and can inform and enrich brain exploration – and vice versa.

As a point of contact between wide-ranging disciplines, neuropsychoanalysis takes on many topics and disciplines. Psychodynamic neuroscience investigates the brain mechanisms of intrapsychic or intersubjective processes, using psychoanalytic concepts to enrich brain research. Clinical neuropsychoanalysis includes working with neurological patients in psychodynamically-informed ways or using observations from work with neurological patients to inform neuropsychoanalytic theory. Theory-building integrates neuroscience findings and models with psychoanalytic constructs in order to move towards a more complete understanding of the mental apparatus." From the NPSA website on 21/12/2018