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

Consciousness may not originate in the higher brain but in lower brain affective experiences that code survival values, providing the energetic foundation for constructing higher forms of cognitive consciousness. This view aligns with Sigmund Freud's theoretical formulations. Perceptual experiences initially arose at the primary-process brainstem level as affective, then were elaborated by secondary learning and memory into tertiary-cognitive forms. Although individual neural activities are unconscious, primal sub-neocortical emotional networks may have served as the sentient scaffolding for perceptual and higher mental activities in the neocortex. The data supporting this neuro-psycho-evolutionary perspective is discussed in relation to classical psychoanalytical models.

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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.