Psycho-Neuro-Convergence?
Hypotheses and findings of the modern Neurosciences have gained much attention especially in philosophical discourse. Parallel to this, a growing debate over the consequences of knowledge gained in the neurosciences is drawing from the concepts, the patterns of interpretation and the paths of evidence of Psychotherapy or as the case may be Psychoanalysis. Next to the first experiments of conceptual hybridisation ("Neuro-Psychotherapy", "Neuro-Psychoanalysis"), there are also signs of a reciprocal adaptation of terms, forms of explanation and lines of argumentation.
The technically image-enhanced procedures (fMRT, PET) were of central importance for this development. Based upon which real-time well-differentiated images of neuronal patterns of activity could be generated and correlated with psychological states as well as disease processes / courses of illnesses. Psychological processes thereby mirror organ activities and processes. The suggestive power of images, which enable us by all appearances to visualise the psyche, have awoken in particular two fears / apprehensions / misgivings: First, that neuronal deviations will become the dominating factor in understanding psychological illnesses thereby pushing them into the interpretation of a brain illness and second, that the normalisation of brain activity will become the definition of success for psychotherapeutic treatment. .
The following topics are included in the research question: the reciprocal adaptation of terms, the difference or as the case may be convergence of semantics, the alteration of patterns of interpretation and concepts of action, influences on one’s professional self-image, adaptation processes and professional-political defense mechanisms, framework conditions and contexts of the diffusion of the findings and techniques in the neuroscience.
http://www.uni-hamburg.de/fachbereiche-einrichtungen/fg_ta_med/psycho-neuro-konvergenzen_e.html
Duration: 01. March 2007 - Continuous
Project lead: PD Dr. phil. habil. Günter Feuerstein
Dauer: Beginn 01.03.2007 - fortlaufend
Projektleitung: PD Dr. phil. habil. Günter Feuerstein