The bridge between two worlds: psychoanalysis and fMRI

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In recent years, a connection between psychoanalysis and neuroscience has been sought. The meeting point between these two branches is represented by neuropsychoanalysis. The goal of the relationship between psychoanalysis and neuroscience is to test psychoanalytic hypotheses in the human brain, using a scientific method. A literature search was conducted on May 2015. PubMed and Scopus databases were used to find studies for the inclusion in the systematic review. Common results of the studies investigated are represented by a reduction, a modulation, or a normalization of the activation patterns found after the psychoanalytic therapy. New findings in the possible and useful relationship between psychoanalysis and neuroscience could change the modalities of relating to patients for psychoanalysts and the way in which neuroscientists plan their research. Researchers should keep in mind that in any scientific research that has to do with people, neuroscience and a scientific method cannot avoid subjective interpretation.</jats:p>

Threat Response System: Parallel Brain Processes in Pain vis-à-vis Fear and Anxiety

“…We address unconscious processing in conditions such as pain, anxiety and fear ( 31 , 32 ) from the neurobiological standpoint. Specifically, we will consider high-amplitude low-frequency endogenous excitation of the limbic system normatively subordinated to the cortical default mode network containment as a valid version of “unconscious” ( 12 , 15 , 33 – 35 ). Although only one of many acceptable ways that “unconscious” might be conceptualized, this approach’s advantages include: (a) clearly defined neuroanatomical and electrophysiological criteria ( 33 ); (b) a firm foundation of cognitive neuroscience establishing links to the related memory and attention networks research foundation ( 36 ), and (c) its relationship to neuropsychopathology has been extensively accepted ( 33 , 37 ).…”