Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory revolutionized psychology by introducing the idea that unconscious forces significantly shape human behavior. According to Freud, every psychological event is driven by deep-seated internal forces, often formed during early childhood. His theory, built on the premises of psychic determinism, symbolic meaning, and unconscious motivation, offers a unique perspective on the complexities of human behavior.
Freud's concept of psychic determinism asserts...

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...

Freudian Psychology

Freudian Psychology

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist born in 1856, significantly influenced psychology through his exploration of the unconscious mind. His interest in patients suffering from hysteria and neurosis — conditions without apparent physical causes — led him to theorize the existence of an unconscious mind, a repository for feelings and urges beyond our awareness. Freud's innovative approach included techniques such as dream analysis, free association, and attention to slips of the...

Concepts and Prototypes

Concepts and Prototypes

The human nervous system handles vast amounts of information by translating sensory stimuli into neural impulses, which the brain processes, creating thoughts expressed through language or stored as memories. The brain also synthesizes information from emotions and memories, which significantly influence thoughts and behaviors. This intricate process creates a comprehensive mental picture.
The brain organizes this information using concepts, which are mental categories grouping linguistic data,...

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...

Jung's Analytical Theory

Jung's Analytical Theory

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and former follower of Freud, eventually broke away from Freud's ideas to create his framework, analytical psychology. This approach emphasizes achieving a balance between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind and reconciling various experiences within an individual's personality. Jung believed that this process, which typically unfolds in the latter part of life, involves an ongoing journey of recognizing and incorporating unconscious...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Open Molecular Crystals 2025 (OMC25) dataset and models.

Scientific data·2026

Same author

Quantum chemical package Jaguar: A survey of recent developments and unique features.

The Journal of chemical physics·2024

Same author

Chemical Bonding and the Role of Node-Induced Electron Confinement.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2024

Same author

Large Computational Survey of Intrinsic Reactivity of Aromatic Carbon Atoms with Respect to a Model Aldehyde Oxidase.

Journal of chemical theory and computation·2023

Same author

Oligoprogression in Metastatic, Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer-Prevalence and Current Clinical Practice.

Frontiers in oncology·2022

Same author

Software for the frontiers of quantum chemistry: An overview of developments in the Q-Chem 5 package.

The Journal of chemical physics·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Published on: November 1, 2019

Neural network modeling of psychoanalytic concepts.

Daniel S Levine¹, Ana Maria C Aleksandrowicz², Ana Luiza S Verissimo Lopes³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington, TX, United States.

Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience

|August 8, 2025

Summary

This study applies neural network modeling to psychoanalysis, interpreting behavioral change as a system transition. This framework offers new insights into Freudian concepts, libido, and emotional regulation.

Keywords:

amygdala brain ego hypothalamus neural networks prefrontal cortex psychoanalysis

More Related Videos

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Statistical Modelling of Cortical Connectivity Using Non-invasive Electroencephalograms

Published on: November 1, 2019

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain

Published on: October 13, 2023

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychoanalysis
Computational Psychiatry

Background:

Psychoanalytic concepts lack a unified neurobiological framework.
Traditional models struggle to explain the mechanisms of behavioral change and therapeutic processes.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a computational model of psychoanalytic processes using neural network techniques.
To reinterpret Freudian concepts, such as libido and drives, through a neurobiological lens.
To explore how psychoanalysis facilitates a meaningful life by modeling brain dynamics.

Main Methods:

Application of brain-based neural network modeling techniques.
Utilizing simulated annealing within a competitive-cooperative dynamical system.
Modeling key brain structures (amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hypothalamus) and neurotransmitters (norepinephrine).

Main Results:

Behavioral change is modeled as a transition to a more optimal attractor state.
The model provides new interpretations of Freudian concepts: life/death drives, object/narcissistic libido, autonomy vs. dependence.
Transference and sublimation are explained through network dynamics and lateral inhibition.

Conclusions:

Neural network theory offers a novel framework for understanding psychoanalysis and its therapeutic mechanisms.
The model elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of psychological concepts, bridging clinical theory and neuroscience.
This approach enhances understanding of self-interest, empathy, and emotional regulation within the limbic system.