What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Neuro? A Response to Suzanne Egan

The following piece addresses some of the issues raised by Suzanne Egan about the growth of neurologically influenced understandings of trauma and trauma-informed practice. The growth of this phenomenon perhaps reflects an increased tendency to see biological understandings (especially brain chemistry and functioning) as primary. Whilst the piece (and Egan’s discussion) does not dismiss this biological element, it nonetheless seeks to interrogate exactly how neurological understandings can dovetail with other disciplines such as those provided by the social sciences. Both pieces address the ideas of discourse and the discursive constructions of problems as explored in the work of both Michel Foucault and Nikolas Rose.