Eigenmodes of the deep unconscious: the neuropsychology of Jungian archetypes and psychedelic experience.

Archetypes—universal symbols and patterns in the deep unconscious—can be understood through a neuroscientific lens that integrates Carl Jung's theory with the Free Energy Principle and Predictive Processing. The article proposes a three-part interplay among high-level cortex, low-level cortex, and subcortical/affective systems to explain how archetypes arise, especially during altered states like psychedelic experiences. It suggests that archetypes have an affective core in subcortical regions, emerge as imagery in altered states, and are encoded as stories in higher cortical areas. The collective unconscious may develop through social learning and attunement, transmitting archetypes between individuals. This synthesis offers testable hypotheses about the neural basis of archetypes, aiming to validate Jungian concepts and encourage further empirical research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article presents a neuroscientific interpretation of Carl Jung's theory of archetypes and their experience in altered states of consciousness. We begin by rehearsing the Free Energy Principle and Predictive Processing as foundational frameworks that subserve and inform the thesis that follows. The following sections examine three aspects of archetypes: the affective core rooted in subcortical systems, archetypal imagery emergent in altered states such as psychedelic experiences, and archetypal stories encoded in higher cortical areas. Specifically, we propose a trilogical interplay between the high-level cortex, the low-level cortex, and subcortical/affective systems in instantiating these archetypal phenomena. We then explore how archetypes may be transmitted between individuals, developing into a collective unconscious through social learning and subsequent attunement. Throughout, we provide syntheses of Jungian psychology with contemporary neuroscience, offering testable hypotheses regarding the neurological bases of archetypal phenomena. We conclude by discussing implications for both psychoanalytic theory and neuroscientific research. By bridging these disciplines, we aim to lend construct validity to Jungian concepts and encourage further empirical investigation of archetypes and the collective unconscious.