The continuity of cognitive processes and the discontinuity of subjective emergences

Aims. - Beyond the animated discussion between psychoanalysts and scientists, this article sets out to explore certain advances in the neurosciences and the general theories of the brain emerging from them, such as the Global Workspace, developed by J.-P. Changeux, S. Dehaene and L. Naccache. This approach can be set against the theories that have been proposed by psychoanalysis since Freud, in particular on the issue of subjectivity, a veritable meeting point between these very contemporary approaches to human beings. Method. - The first step is to conduct a didactic study of the proposals of the neurosciences and psychoanalysis so as to explore the fundamental axioms, such as the unconscious which is a point of encounter between the two. Then, without seeking any consensus nor any demonstration of one by the other, we need to extract what it appears relevant to retain from the respective theories regarding the emergence of subjectivity. Results. - This overview of the concrete results obtained by science provides scope for the exploration of the new theories, while at the same time pointing towards a possible extension towards psychoanalysis, and more broadly towards certain traditions in the psychodynamic approaches. It thus appears that taking account of these experimental laboratory results, although they were initially far removed from the issues of subjectivity, enables points of encounter opening up interesting perspectives to be identified. Discussion. - The notions of continuity and discontinuity then appear as legitimate elements in this exploration and this encounter between the viewpoints of science and those of psychoanalysis. Starting from objective, specific neuronal functionings, it is then possible to derive theoretical constructions on the emergence of subjectivity. These new approaches, calling on phenomena such as the conscious and the unconscious to interpret results, could find interesting answers in psychoanalysis. Conclusion. - The prolific activity of contemporary science thus offers numerous new fields of research that can be valuable in the human sciences. Thus, in particular on the basis of life science research, approaches that could appear out-dated, like psychoanalysis, can re-emerge as remarkably modern. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.