Connectionism and psychoanalysis

A currently interesting set of models of perception, learning, and cognition--known as connectionist or neural net systems--have contributed to changes in the way cognitive scientists view brain function. A fruitful interaction between brain models and computer models leads us to think that the brain may be less dependent on a central processor, that there may be much brain work that is self-organizing, and that mind-brain dualism may be unnecessary. This article explores the implications for psychoanalytic theory that emerge from these new models.