Based on neuroscientific evidence that consciousness depends on brainstem nuclei, and that these nuclei are centrally involved with the primary emotional and motivational processes that we associate with the id, Mark Solms has proposed that the id is fundamentally conscious. He also argues that the neuroscientific evidence suggests that the ego processes which mediate learning, automatization, and prediction, are fundamentally unconscious (and derive their consciousness from the id). In this panel, Dr. Solms will reprise his central arguments and explore some of the implications for psychoanalytic theory, with commentary, challenge and elaboration by Jaak Panksepp and Heather Berlin.

Mark Solms, Ph.D.
University of Cape Town

Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D.
Washington State University

Heather Berlin, Ph.D.
Mount Sinai Medical School

Moderator: Maggie Zellner

Students, academics and clinical professionals in the analytic community are encouraged to attend. Members of the general public are also welcome.

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