PREFRONTAL LEUCOTOMY Meaning and
Definition
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Prefrontal leucotomy, also known as prefrontal lobotomy or frontal lobotomy, is a surgical procedure that involves the deliberate disruption or removal of the prefrontal cortex, which is the front portion of the brain responsible for higher executive functions and cognitive control. This procedure was developed as a treatment for severe psychiatric disorders, particularly those that were deemed difficult to manage without invasive interventions.
The technique was first introduced in the early 20th century and gained popularity as a treatment for mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, severe depression, and psychosis. It involves the insertion of a surgical instrument, such as an icepick-like instrument, into the frontal lobes through small holes made in the skull. The procedure aims to sever or disrupt the connections between the prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain to alleviate symptoms and supposedly improve the patient's mental state.
Prefrontal leucotomy was believed to reduce the intensity of emotions, alleviate anxiety, and control disruptive behaviors. However, its effects were widely controversial, and it led to significant side effects such as personality changes, decreased emotional responsiveness, impaired creativity, and cognitive deficits. Due to ethical concerns and advancements in psychiatric treatments, prefrontal leucotomy fell out of favor by the mid-20th century.
Today, prefrontal leucotomy is considered an obsolete procedure, as more targeted and less invasive treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy, have become the standard in managing severe mental illnesses.
Common Misspellings for PREFRONTAL LEUCOTOMY
- orefrontal leucotomy
- lrefrontal leucotomy
- -refrontal leucotomy
- 0refrontal leucotomy
- peefrontal leucotomy
- pdefrontal leucotomy
- pfefrontal leucotomy
- ptefrontal leucotomy
- p5efrontal leucotomy
- p4efrontal leucotomy
- prwfrontal leucotomy
- prsfrontal leucotomy
- prdfrontal leucotomy
- prrfrontal leucotomy
- pr4frontal leucotomy
- pr3frontal leucotomy
- predrontal leucotomy
- precrontal leucotomy
- prevrontal leucotomy
Etymology of PREFRONTAL LEUCOTOMY
The word "prefrontal leucotomy" is derived from several components:
1. "Pre" is a prefix indicating "before" or "prior to" in Latin.
2. "Frontal" pertains to the frontal lobe, which is the front-most part of the brain.
3. "Leucotomy" comes from the Greek words "leukos" meaning "white" and "tomē" meaning "cutting" or "incision".
Therefore, "prefrontal leucotomy" refers to a surgical procedure involving the cutting or incision of the white matter in the front-most part of the brain. This procedure was once used to treat psychiatric disorders but has largely been replaced by more modern treatments.
Similar spelling words for PREFRONTAL LEUCOTOMY
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