This article summarizes the key findings of neurobiology and Neuropsychoanalysis in relation to psychotherapy and self-development. First, the neurobiological foundations of the human nervous system are presented, with the nerve cell as the smallest unit, its central and peripheral parts and its sensorimotor and autonomic fibers. Then, neuropsychoanalytical findings are presented which emphasize the importance of synchronized eye contact between infants and primary caregivers for the development of affect regulation and attachment. Finally, the self is considered from a neurobiological perspective and new knowledge on consciousness and affects is explained.
Arbeitskreis OPD (2006). Operationalisierte Psychodynamische Diagnostik OPD-2 [Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis OPD-2]. Bern: Hans Huber.
Damasio, A.R. (1994). Descartes’ Error. New York: Grosset/Putnam.
Devinsky, O. (2000). Right cerebral hemisphere dominance for a sense of corporeal and emotional self. Epilepsy & Behavior, 1(1):60–73.
Dornes, M. (2000). Die emotionale Welt des Kindes [The Emotional World of the Child]. Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer Taschenbuch.
Ekman, P. (2010 [2003]). Gefühle lesen (2. Auflage) [Original title: Emotions Revealed. Understanding Faces and Feelings (2003)]. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag.
Emde, R.N. (1988). Development terminable and interminable. I. Innate and motivational factors from infancy. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis, 69:23–42.
Freud, S. (1914c). Zur Einführung des Narzißmus. GW 10 [On the Introduction of Narcissism], 137–170.
Kahlenberg, E. (2010). Aus den Augen – noch im Sinn? Vom Selbst in Anderen [Out of Sight − Still in Mind? The Self in Others]. Psyche – Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse und ihre Anwendungen, 64:59–85.
Kohut, H. (1971). The analysis of the self: A systematic approach to the psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic personality disorders. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kohut, H. (1977). The Restauration of the Self. New York: International Universities Press.
Kohut, H. (1984). How Does Analysis Cure?. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Krystal, H. (1988). Integration and Self-Healing: Affect – Trauma – Alexithymia. Hillsdale: Analytic Press.
Leuzinger-Bohleber, M., Fischmann, T., Böker, H., Northoff, G. & Solms, M. (2015). Psychoanalyse und Neurowissenschaften [Psychoanalysis and the Neurosciences]. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
Lowen, A. (1984). Narzissmus [Original title: Narcissism]. München: Kösel.
Polyvagal Institute (2023). The Vagal Paradox: A Polyvagal Solution. http://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/vagal-paradox (28.12.2023).
Ramge, T. (2018). Mensch und Maschine (8. Auflage) [Humans and Machines]. Ditzingen: Philipp Reclam.
Rudolf, G. (2006). Strukturbezogene Psychotherapie (2. Auflage) [Structure-Related Psychotherapy ]. Stuttgart: Schattauer.
Schore, A.N. (2009). Affektregulation und die Reorganisation des Selbst (2. Auflage) [Original title: Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.
Schultz-Venrath, U. (2015). Lehrbuch Mentalisieren (3. Auflage) [Textbook on Mentalization]. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.
Solms, M. (2023). The Hidden Spring. Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta.
Sroufe, L.A. (1996). Emotional Development: The Organization of Emotional Life in the Early Years. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, G.J., Bagby, R.M. & Parker, J.D.A. (1997). Disorders of Affect Regulation: Alexithymia in Medical and Psychiatric Illness. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Winkler, S. (2018). Neurogenes Zittern als neuer Baustein in der Traumabehandlung? [Neurogenic Tremor: A New Building Block in Trauma Treatment?]. Psychotherapeutenjournal, 3:244–250.
Winson, J. (1990). The meaning of dreams. Scientific American, 263/5:86–97.
