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Mark Solms
Neuropsychologist: the brainstem and the felt uncertainty theory
Who they are, and what we talked about
Mark Solms is a South African neuropsychologist who directs neuropsychology at the University of Cape Town's neuroscience institute. He is known for identifying brain mechanisms of dreaming and for bringing psychoanalytic ideas into modern neuroscience, and he argues that consciousness has its source in the brainstem and in feeling states more than in the cortex.
He has joined Dr Naidu three times: in 2022 on where consciousness comes from, in 2023 on why we dream and the felt uncertainty theory, and in 2025 with Karl Friston on whether artificial consciousness can be engineered.
Topics
Written by Mind-Body Solution from the episode show notes. Guests speak for themselves, and their views are their own. Read the full disclaimer.
Episodes with Dr Naidu
In date order, so you can follow how the conversation developed.
24 May 2022
Where Is The Source Of Consciousness? The Hidden Spring & The Cortical Fallacy
Length 1 hr 51 min
In this conversation: Why is it "something it is like" to be me?; Mark's theory of consciousness (Affect & Feelings); The Hard Problem.
2 October 2023
How Do Dreams Relate To Consciousness? Why We Dream & The Felt Uncertainty Theory
Length 1 hr 36 min
In this conversation: Michael Levin's question to Mark: "What is the meaning of life?"; Levin's Lab & Work; Dreaming vs REM Sleep.
2 September 2025
Is it Possible to Engineer Artificial Consciousness?
Length 1 hr 33 min
In this conversation: Defining Consciousness & Intelligence; Minimizing Free Energy + Maximizing Affective States; Knowing if Something is Conscious.