lobotomy

lobotomy /lo·bot·o·my/ (lo-bot´ah-me) incision of a lobe; in psychosurgery, incision of all the fibers of a lobe of the brain.

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frontal lobotomy , prefrontal lobotomy incision of the white matter of the frontal lobe with a leukotome passed via a cannula through holes drilled in the skull.

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lo·bot·o·my (l-bt-m, l-)

n.

1. Incision into a lobe.

2. The division of one or more nerve tracts in a lobe of the cerebrum.

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lobotomy

[lōbot′əmē]

Etymology: Gk, lobos + temnein, to cut

a neurosurgical procedure (craniotomy) in which the nerve fibers in the bundle of white matter in the frontal lobe of the brain are severed to interrupt the transmission of various affective responses. Severe intractable depression and pain are among the indications for the operation. It is seldom performed, because it has many unpredictable and undesirable effects, including personality change, aggression, socially unacceptable behavior, incontinence, apathy, and lack of consideration for others. Because lobotomy is simple to perform, it was overused in the treatment of mentally ill patients in the past. A cannula is passed through the bony orbit of the eye, and a wire loop is inserted through the cannula to the cingulum. The nerve fibers are severed with the wire loop. Also called leukotomy.

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lobotomy (l·bäˑ·t·mēˈ),

n an infrequently performed surgical separation of the nerve fibers that connect the thalamus to the frontal lobes. This procedure is typically used in the treatment of certain mental disorders, such as severe depression. Also called
leukotomy.

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lobotomy

cutting of nerve fibers connecting a lobe of the brain with the thalamus. In most cases the affected parts are the prefrontal or frontal lobes; thus the operation is referred to as prefrontal, or frontal, lobotomy. Performed in humans as a form of psychosurgery. It has been applied in dogs for the treatment of aggressive behavior, but is of limited usefulness.