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The DOI matches its Crossref record, with a small difference in title or year; 49 of the 55 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

The “Id” Knows More than the “Ego” Admits: Neuropsychoanalytic and Primal Consciousness Perspectives on the Interface Between Affective and Cognitive Neuroscience

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Solms, Mark, Panksepp, Jaak·2012·Brain Sciences
DOI 10.3390/brainsci2020147PMC PMC4061793
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Abstract

It is commonly believed that consciousness is a higher brain function. Here we consider the likelihood, based on abundant neuroevolutionary data that lower brain affective phenomenal experiences provide the “energy” for the developmental construction of higher forms of cognitive consciousness. This view is concordant with many of the theoretical formulations of Sigmund Freud. In this reconceptualization, all of consciousness may be dependent on the original evolution of affective phenomenal experiences that coded survival values. These subcortical energies provided a foundation that could be used for the epigenetic construction of perceptual and other higher forms of consciousness. From this perspective, perceptual experiences were initially affective at the primary-process brainstem level, but capable of being elaborated by secondary learning and memory processes into tertiary-cognitive forms of consciousness. Within this view, although all individual neural activities are unconscious, perhaps along with secondary-process learning and memory mechanisms, the primal sub-neocortical networks of emotions and other primal affects may have served as the sentient scaffolding for the construction of resolved perceptual and higher mental activities within the neocortex. The data supporting this neuro-psycho-evolutionary vision of the emergence of mind is discussed in relation to classical psychoanalytical models.

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Crossref · 10.3390/brainsci2020147

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Figure 1 A schematic showing nested hierarchies of brain functions in which primary processes (red squares) influence secondary (green circles) and tertiary (blue rectangles) processes, which in turn exert top-down regulatory control. The seven primary process emotions are noted: positively valenced emotions highlighted in red (SEEKING, LUST, CARE and PLAY), and negative ones in purple (RAGE, FEAR and PANIC/GRIEF) [2,4].
Figure 1 A schematic showing nested hierarchies of brain functions in which primary processes (red squares) influence secondary (green circles) and tertiary (blue rectangles) processes, which in turn exert top-down regulatory control. The seven primary process emotions are noted: positively valenced emotions highlighted in red (SEEKING, LUST, CARE and PLAY), and negative ones in purple (RAGE, FEAR and PANIC/GRIEF) [2,4].CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Freud’s second model of the mental apparatus. Pcpt (previously φ) = Perceptual system; Mnem (previously ψ) = Mnemic systems; Ucs = Unconscious system; Pcs = Preconscious system; M = Motor system [also known as Consciousness system, abbreviated Cs (previously ω)]. Reproduced from [5] with permission.
Figure 2 Freud’s second model of the mental apparatus. Pcpt (previously φ) = Perceptual system; Mnem (previously ψ) = Mnemic systems; Ucs = Unconscious system; Pcs = Preconscious system; M = Motor system [also known as Consciousness system, abbreviated Cs (previously ω)]. Reproduced from [5] with permission.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Freud’s final model of the mental apparatus. Pcpt.-Cs. = Perceptual-Consciousness system. Reproduced from [17] with permission.
Figure 3 Freud’s final model of the mental apparatus. Pcpt.-Cs. = Perceptual-Consciousness system. Reproduced from [17] with permission.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Dark blue = exteroceptive projection cortex; light blue = perceptual association cortex; green = motor projection cortex; yellow = motor association (executive) cortex.
Figure 4 Dark blue = exteroceptive projection cortex; light blue = perceptual association cortex; green = motor projection cortex; yellow = motor association (executive) cortex.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Red = some interoceptive nuclei; magenta = some ERTAS (arousal) nuclei; white = some basic emotion circuits.
Figure 5 Red = some interoceptive nuclei; magenta = some ERTAS (arousal) nuclei; white = some basic emotion circuits.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 The preceding Figure 2 and Figure 3 are colored here to show some correspondences with the brain structures indicated by the same colors in Figure 4 and Figure 5.
Figure 6 The preceding Figure 2 and Figure 3 are colored here to show some correspondences with the brain structures indicated by the same colors in Figure 4 and Figure 5.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 A typical hydranencephalic brain. (Reprinted with permission of the American College of Radiology [40]. No other representation of this material is authorized without expressed, written permission from the American College of Radiology).
Figure 7 A typical hydranencephalic brain. (Reprinted with permission of the American College of Radiology [40]. No other representation of this material is authorized without expressed, written permission from the American College of Radiology).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 8 The emotional reaction of a young hydranencephalic girl. (We thank Bjorn Merker for the use of these photographs, reproduced with permission of the child’s mother [41]).
Figure 8 The emotional reaction of a young hydranencephalic girl. (We thank Bjorn Merker for the use of these photographs, reproduced with permission of the child’s mother [41]).CC BY · PubMed Central

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Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Freud, 1915, The Unconscious, Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, volume 14, 166
  2. Freud, S. (1900). Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Hogarth.
  3. Freud, 1917, A Metapsychological Supplement to the Theory of Dreams, Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, volume 14, 222
  4. Freud, 1923, The Ego and the Id, Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, volume 19, 12
  5. Freud, 1915, Instincts and Their Vicissitudes, Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, volume 14, 117
  6. Freud, S. (1916–1917). Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Hogarth.
  7. Freud, 1933, Introductory Lectures in Psychoanalysis, Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, volume 22, 5

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Metadata

Authors
Solms, M., & Panksepp, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
  • Washington State University (US)
Corresponding author
Solms, Mark
ORCID
Solms, Mark
Venue
Brain Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2012-04-17
Volume
2
Issue
2
Pages
147-175
ISSN
2076-3425 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3390/brainsci2020147
PMC
PMC4061793
OpenAlex
W1968799970
Cited by
254
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 3
FWCI
27.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Brain Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Cognitive Science and Education Research
Keywords
consciousness, affective consciousness, neuropsychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, psychoanalytic theory, neuroevolution, emotions, emergence of mind, cognitive consciousness, perceptual consciousness, epigenetic development

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