This book offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary synthesis of psychoanalytic theory and contemporary neuroscience. It systematically revisits Freud’s core constructs - such as the unconscious, drives, defence mechanisms, psychosexual development, and clinical processes - and maps them onto current neurobiological evidence. The central argument is that psychoanalysis, far from being an outdated metaphor, provides a robust and prescient functional framework for understanding the mind–brain relationship. The book distinguishes itself by integrating over 200 empirical studies from neuroimaging, lesion research, electrophysiology, and behavioural paradigms into a coherent narrative. Its educational value lies in its structured, accessible yet rigorous presentation, making it suitable for both students and practitioners seeking a scientifically grounded yet clinically meaningful perspective. This book will help to satisfy the growing need for a unified, non-reductionist model of human subjectivity that bridges clinical insight with biological plausibility.

Michele Di Salvo is an Italian researcher, author, and expert operating at the dynamic intersection of neuroscience, psychology, AI and law. With a career spanning scientific research, clinical theory, and policy analysis, he is recognized for his interdisciplinary approach to understanding the human mind and its interaction with emerging technologies. He currently is Academic Coordinator at the ENIA Foundation and Director of NeuralNexus Review. His work has garnered significant recognition, including the 2024 AI Awards for Ethics for his public advocacy of "neural rights" and cognitive liberty. He is author of 12 seminal scientific books such as "Autism Research between Psychology and Neuroscience" (Springer, 2024) and "A Perspective on the Neurobiological Basis of Autism" (Routledge, 2025), along with numerous peer-reviewed articles.