Mark Solms

Mark Solms is a South African psychoanalyst and neuropsychologist renowned for his pioneering work in neuropsychoanalysis, particularly his exploration of the brain mechanisms underlying dreaming. Solms has a prolific publication record, having authored over 250 articles and book chapters alongside six books.

He currently holds the Chair of Neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital and serves as the President of the South African Psychoanalytical Association. Solms is also the Research Chair of the International Psychoanalytical Association.

In 2000, Solms founded the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society and co-founded the journal Neuropsychoanalysis with Ed Nersessian. He has played a significant role in bridging the gap between psychoanalysis and neuroscience, arguing for integrating subjective psychoanalytic theories with the objective anatomical study of the brain. His approach often references historical cases like Phineas Gage to illustrate the interplay between neurological injuries and personality changes.

His second book, The Neuropsychology of Dreams (1997), is considered a landmark in understanding the neural basis of dreaming. Another significant work, The Brain and the Inner World (2002), co-authored with Oliver Turnbull, has been translated into 13 languages and explores the interface between brain function and psychoanalytic theory.

His latest book, The Hidden Source: A Journey to the Source of Consciousness (2021), explores the neurobiological underpinnings of consciousness, tackling what some refer to as the "hard problem" of consciousness studies.

Solms is also the authorised editor and translator of the forthcoming Revised Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud and the Complete Neuroscientific Works of Sigmund Freud. His scholarly contributions have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Gradiva Award for Best Book in the Science Category for Clinical Studies in Neuropsychoanalysis, co-authored with Karen Kaplan-Solms, and the Sigourney Award from the Mary Sigourney Trust.

Beyond his academic and publishing endeavours, Solms has ventured into winemaking. He is involved with Solms-Delta, a vineyard in the Franschhoek Valley, which he transformed into a cooperative ownership model.

Mark Solms lives in the Western Cape.

Photo credit: X @Mark_Solms