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As is well known, psychoanalysts have opened up towards the neurosciences in a totally new measure since the end of the 1990s. The reasons for this are manifold: a search for scientific legitimacy, interest in the findings of new neuroimaging methods, some neuro-biologists' conceptualizations of subjective experience, etc. Although the attempts to build bridges between disciplines have not passed unchallenged — some have raised doubts about the relevance of neurobiological findings for psychoanalysis proper — when the history of the present era of psychoanalysis will be written, the current period will probably be seen as one of a general interest in our neighbouring, neuroscientific fields. Several organizations of “Neuropsychoanalysis” have been founded, Annual Congresses are organized, a popular neuropsychoanalytic periodical will soon celebrate its 10th anniversary. Geographically, this interest is widespread. There are many neuropsychoanalytic centers in both Europe and the United States. Members of all Scandinavian psychoanalytical societies have published in the field, and this reviewer knows about three Nordic study groups (there are probably more) that focus on the challenge of integrating psychoanalysis and neurobiology.
A recent contribution is the book Psychoanalysis and neuroscience. Its editor, Mauro Mancia, who died in 2007, was one of the few persons scientifically qualified in both neurophysiology — one of his first training positions was at the Karolinska Institutet, later he held a Professorship in Neurophysiology in Milan — and, as a prolific writer and a training analyst, in psychoanalysis. As one of the key European figures in the integration of neuroscience and psychoanalysis within the framework of the Eurpean Psychoanalytic Federation, Mancia was well suited for the editorship of the above-mentioned considered volume.
Psychoanalysis and neuroscience comprises 16 chapters divided into 4 sections: Memories and emotions, The shared emotions, Drea