Name: #105 Mark Solms - Exploring the Depths of Consciousness
Uploaded: 2025-11-09T08:03:00+00:00
Duration: 1 h 1 min 17 s
Description: For Mark Solms, one of the boldest thinkers in contemporary neuroscience, discovering how consciousness comes about has been a lifetime’s quest. Scientists consider it the "hard problem" because it se

15 days ago

Health & Science Weird Science consciousness psychoanalysis neuroscience dreams mental health affective neuroscience Mark Solms Michael Levin DSM

For Mark Solms, one of the boldest thinkers in contemporary neuroscience, discovering how consciousness comes about has been a lifetime’s quest. Scientists consider it the "hard problem" because it seems an impossible task to understand why we feel a subjective sense of self and how it arises in the brain. Venturing into the elementary physics of life, Solms has now arrived at an astonishing answer. In The Hidden Spring, he brings forward his discovery in accessible language and graspable analogies. Solms is a frank and fearless guide on an extraordinary voyage from the dawn of neuropsychology and psychoanalysis to the cutting edge of contemporary neuroscience, adhering to the medically provable. But he goes beyond other neuroscientists by paying close attention to the subjective experiences of hundreds of neurological patients, many of whom he treated, whose uncanny conversations expose much about the brain’s obscure reaches. Most importantly, you will be able to recognize the workings of your own mind for what they really are, including every stray thought, pulse of emotion, and shift of attention.His book “The Hidden Spring” will profoundly alter your understanding of your own subjective experience.

Professor Mark Solms discusses his lifelong journey into understanding consciousness, influenced by personal experiences and notable figures in psychology and neuroscience. He emphasizes the importance of feelings in consciousness, critiques the DSM and psychiatric practices, and explores the intersection of neuroscience with AI. Solms also shares insights on dreams, psychoanalysis, and the significance of subjective experience in understanding the mind.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey into Consciousness
04:44 Influences and Inspirations
09:02 Feel, Therefore I Think
16:11 The Role of Psychoanalysis
22:15 Contemplative Practices and Self-Exploration
25:32 Critique of Psychiatry and the DSM
28:43 The Only Cure: A New Perspective
35:33 The Body and Somatic Practices
37:24 Understanding Dreams
44:17 Jung and the Nature of Dreams
48:53 Collaboration with Michael Levin
54:11 The Future of Neuroscience and AI
58:21 Final Thoughts on Existence and Understanding