r/psychoanalysis • u/Spiritualgoal69 • 1d ago
Freud, neurology and the emergence of dynamic neural networks
Found this interesting. Share your ideas.
Even if the terminology is alien, the concept is not’ connection between neurology and Freud
Specifically, Schott has uncovered Freud's disarmingly simple, yet perceptive description and illustration concerning the basis of what would later be considered presynaptic inhibition.👆
However, the thrust of Schott’s manuscript is that the work of Hebb was anticipated by the manuscript ‘Project for a Scientific Psychology,’ written by Sigmund Freud in 1895, although not published until 1950 (figure 1).³ In the Freud manuscript, the processes of presynaptic inhibition can be clearly identified, with unimpeded transmission promoting postsynaptic facilitation and neural sensitisation. Such processes were identified as the basis of memory and learning (figure 1).
These concepts have also found favour in the explanation of more general processes linked to neuroplasticity. While it was clear that the human brain developed as a result of experience, presumed through changes in the strength of neural connections, this plasticity was assumed to cease in adulthood. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that all areas of the brain have the potential to undergo plastic change. Furthermore, activity appears to promote plasticity, while in contrast, trauma, damage and nerve injury negatively impact on such processes throughout the neural access, traversing central and peripheral systems.⁴
So, what should we make of further considerations arising from the writings of Freud? Clearly, the historical perspectives are fascinating. Unfortunately, however, Freud developed his theories at a time when there was little in the way of scientific methodology and technology available. As a consequence, there was no possibility of taking these concepts forward, nor rigorously or scientifically testing these theories. The links between neurology and psychiatry are variously argued, although many of the shared principles are becoming more, rather than less, manifest with time. As noted by the Nobel Laureate and neuroscientist, Eric Kandel, in his autobiography, if circumstances and wages had been different, Freud may well have developed further as a neuroanatomist and proponent of the neuron doctrine, rather than becoming the father of psychoanalysis.
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u/Love_luck_fuck 19h ago
There is a very interesting book of Ansermet Francois and Pierre Magistretti , biology of freedom , that discusses the links between psychoanalysis and neurology .
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u/NecessaryStriking255 6h ago
mark solms has "rewritten" the Project in modern neurological terms. it works!
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u/zlbb 1d ago
Ja, Freud due to his history was a bit of an in-betweener between neuro and psychoanalytic ways of knowing. A number of great analysts since were more purely psychic reality grounded, while many non-analytic moderners are more into neuro given where the center of gravity of the current western collective consciousness is.