title: The Interface between Neuroscience and Neuro-Psychoanalysis: Focus on Brain Connectivity.
abstract: Over the past 20 years, the advent of advanced techniques has significantly enhanced our knowledge on the brain. Yet, our understanding of the physiological and pathological functioning of the mind is still far from being exhaustive. Both the localizationist and the reductionist neuroscientific approaches to psychiatric disorders have proven to be largely unsatisfactory and are outdated. Accruing evidence suggests that psychoanalysis can engage the neurosciences in a productive and mutually enriching dialogue that may further our understanding of psychiatric disorders. In particular, advances in brain connectivity research have provided evidence supporting the convergence of neuroscientific findings and psychoanalysis and helped characterize the circuitry and mechanisms that underlie higher brain functions. In the present paper we discuss how knowledge on brain connectivity can impact neuropsychoanalysis, with a particular focus on schizophrenia. Brain connectivity studies in schizophrenic patients indicate complex alterations in brain functioning and circuitry, with particular emphasis on the role of cortical midline structures (CMS) and the default mode network (DMN). These networks seem to represent neural correlates of psychodynamic concepts central to the understanding of schizophrenia and of core psychopathological alterations of this disorder (i.e., ego disturbances and impaired primary process thinking).
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies-ITAB, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors: Anatolia
authors: A
authors: Salone
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies-ITAB, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Di Giacinto
authors: Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome Rome, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Lai
authors: Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; National Health Service (NHS), Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital "G. Mazzini"Teramo, Italy.
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: De Berardis
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples Naples, Italy.
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Iasevoli
authors: New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI), Columbia University New York, NY, USA.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Fornaro
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy.
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: De Risio
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies-ITAB, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Santacroce
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies-ITAB, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Martinotti
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences and Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies-ITAB, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy; Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'AnnunzioChieti-Pescara, Italy.
authors: Massimo Di
authors: MD
authors: Giannantonio
keywords: connectivity; neuropsychoanalysis; neuroscience; schizophrenia; self; unconscious