Freud & The Neuroscience of Dreams - Prof. Mark Solms

Freud's claims about why we dream were largely refuted with the discovery of the brain mechanisms of REM sleep (between the 1950s and 70s). This lecture will present findings which show that dreaming is not in fact isomorphic with REM sleep, and that it is generated by a part of the brain that is deeply implicated in emotion, motivation, and memory. Recent findings will also be presented from an ongoing study which is seeking to establish that the biological function of dreaming is actually quite practical and uncomplicated.

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Professor Mark Solms is best known for his discovery of the forebrain mechanisms of dreaming, and for his pioneering integration of psychoanalytic theories and methods with those of modern neuroscience. He holds the Chair of Neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital (Departments of Psychology and Neurology). His other positions have included: Honorary Lecturer in Neurosurgery at St. Bartholomew’s & Royal London School of Medicine, Director of the International Neuro-Psychoanalysis Centre, London, and Director of the Arnold Pfeffer Center for Neuro-Psychoanalysis at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute.

Professor Solms’ books include: Clinical Studies in Neuro-Psychoanalysis (winner of the NAAP’s Gradiva Award Best Book, Science Category in 2001), The Brain and The Inner World (2002), and most recently: Hidden Spring: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness (2021).

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[gilelkan]

It is of no surprise that Freud was right.

[kirstinstrand]

Dreams teach us about our unconscious conflicts and they give us many clues to self understanding. Most humans lack the intelligence and curiosity to understand dreams.
I often wonder why I don't have nightmares, yet I've been aware of dreams my entire life.
I began studying my dreams in my mid 20s. Now I'm in my 70's. My dreams foretold the deaths of my two, much older, sisters and one nephew by approx 10 days each, although they died at different times. Believe me or not. 

Dreams are longer and profuse earlier in life. Now, my dreams are brief, yet reveal images of current psychological work that is still important to ongoing self understanding. Dreams are not wish fulfillment. They represent our inner realities - self understanding requires communication with our unconscious. Freud realized that humans have a part of our mind that are not pleasant to explore because this is where those verboten wishes - to which Freud referred - are stored. People have no idea how to understand their inner beings. Without reaching/unraveling their dreams - they never will. I understand my life and the outer world, as well. My outer world knowledge is of the reality, not the propaganda. My inner world understanding is not about a fantasy life that most have; it's about how I became an adult woman. When I die, I will have no regrets as to how I lived my life.

[rodcameron]

I am a firm believer that our dreams are our minds way of making the majority of associations with our past experiences for use in future predictive functions. Going off the idea that our mind is a predictive engine, which is updated by our perceptions. Perhaps, the evolution of our cortex is in facilitation of the ability to unconsciously categorize our past experiences in ever increasing general categories for easier association when faced with a new situation. Therefore allowing our past experiences to more easily help us survive in situations that we have not encountered yet.
...also, isn't the section of the brain that is mostly stimulated during the SWS-REM, the transcortical pathway? From my limited understanding, isn't that located between and at the base, of the cortex, bridging both hemispheres of the cortex and sitting just above the brain stem? Seems pretty convenient because, as I understand it, the left and right hemispheres of the cortex are the logical and creative hemispheres, and the brain stem is mostly primitive functions... very generally speaking. All the parts that need to be categorized neatly for easy access in future unknown situations to help our survival.
As I said, I don't really know much about this, so I would be very interested in hearing others thoughts about it.

[philmcgroin]

Just struck me that if the eyes start darting about very visibly at regular periods, had no one noticed that prior to EEG?

[geoattoronto]

Freud's contention that dreams are simply wish fulfilment is deeply unsatisfactory. I believe the unconscious brain will try to send a message in story form about what concerns it about our current life. Our job is to decode the story to understand the meaning.

[akivaragen]

Wow, so cool. Great lecture. Thank you.

[kirstinstrand]

Freudian theory must be updated. Not all of his work is accurate, some of it is misunderstood. Freudian theory is very relevant today and is assessable, unlike Carl Jung's theories which appeals to more Americans because of their views on Christianity, as far as my thinking goes. 
I could not have unraveled my dysfunctional childhood without Freudian Psychoanalysis.

[KJFILM]

Great keynote. So many great scientific evidence.

[AlanPater]

So, dreams protect sleep. But then why do we have nightmares? Because they often do the opposite of forcing us awake. (In a rather unpleasant manor!)

[connectingupthedots]

Why are we still talking about the pseudoscience of Freud??

[abcd]

Mark solms just knows about affect nothing more!