Psychosurgery
Definition
Psychosurgery is a type of brain surgery used to treat mental disorders. It involves removing or destroying parts of the brain in an attempt to change a person's behavior or ease severe mental symptoms.
Analogy
Think of psychosurgery as pruning a tree. If one branch (or part of the brain) is causing problems, it might be cut off (or removed) to improve the overall health and function of the tree (or person).
Related terms
Lobotomy: A now largely obsolete psychosurgical procedure that involved severing connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe.
Anterior Cingulotomy: A form of psychosurgery involving lesioning of the anterior cingulate cortex; often used for patients with severe OCD.
Capsulotomy: Another form of psychosurgery where lesions are made in the internal capsule; sometimes used for treating severe OCD or depression.
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