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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75(03): 176-179
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20170012
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Soul, butterfly, mythological nymph: psyche in philosophy and neuroscience

Alma, borboleta, ninfa mitológica: psique em filosofia e neurociência
Elena I. Antonakou
1   University of Macedonia, Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Education, Thessalonica, Greece;
2   University of Macedonia, Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience, Thessalonica, Greece.
,
Lazaros C. Triarhou
1   University of Macedonia, Graduate Program in Neuroscience and Education, Thessalonica, Greece;
2   University of Macedonia, Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience, Thessalonica, Greece.
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ABSTRACT

The term “psyche” and its derivatives – including “Psychology” and “Psychiatry” – are rooted in classical philosophy and in mythology. Over the centuries, psyche has been the subject of discourse and contemplation, and of fable; it has also come to signify, in entomology, the order of Lepidoptera. In the current surge of research on brain and mind, there is a gradual transition from the psyche (or the “soul”) to the specified descriptors defined by the fields of Behavioral, Cognitive and Integrative Neuroscience.

RESUMO

O termo “psique” e seus derivados - incluindo “Psicologia” e “Psiquiatria” - estão enraizados na filosofia clássica e na mitologia. Ao longo dos séculos, a psique tem sido objeto do discurso, da contemplação, e de fábula; Também veio a significar, em entomologia, a ordem dos lepidópteros. Na atual onda de pesquisa sobre cérebro e mente, há uma transição gradual da psique (ou da “alma”) para os descritores especificados definidos pelos campos da Neurociência Comportamental, Cognitiva e Integrativa.

history - history, ancient - philosophy - neuropsychology - cognitive neuroscience
história - história antiga - filosofia - neuropsicologia - neurociência cognitiva


Publication History

Received: 28 April 2016

Accepted: 31 October 2016

Article published online:
05 September 2023

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