The Dopaminergic and Acetylcholinergic Supplements to Freudian Structural Theory of Psychoanalysis

What is it about?

For the Freudian topographic theory of psychoanalysis, it has recently been supplemented the reticular noradrenergic (NA), serotonergic (5-HT) and acetylcholinergic (ACh) systems to demonstrate the differential regulation of unconscious/preconscious/conscious in waking and sleep, applicable to depression and anxiety. For the Freudian structural theory of id/ego/super-ego, it is keen to depict the personal social psychology with selfishness, applicable to schizophrenia. Herein, it is analogously added the neglected reticular dopaminergic (DA) and ACh systems to regulate the id, ego, and super-ego, corresponding to the bodily instincts including motivation, selfish behaviors including skills, and social knowledge including law, respectively. For DA, predominantly it is selective on super-ego, excitatory to id and beneficial to ego; while for ACh, predominantly it is excitatory to super-ego, depressive to id, and restrictive to ego. It is the hyperactivation of DA and downregulation of ACh that results in schizophrenia and dementia, respectively. It is accordingly reconciled the structural theory of psychoanalysis with the present pathological and pharmacological achievements.

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Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The Freudian structural psychoanalysis of id/ego/super-ego, keen to depict the personal social psychology with selfishness while applicable to schizophrenia, is not comprehensive, and should be supplemented with the ascending dopaminergic and acetylcholinergic systems.

Perspectives