1.1.2 Psychosurgery

Question 1

Applying the biological approach to psychosurgery

Answer 1

• Assumes localisation of brain function plays a significant role in shaping bhevaiour
• Assumes that psychological disorders are caused by damage/abnormlaities to specific parts of the brain

Question 2

Psychosurgery aims

Answer 2

• Relieve stress and anxiety disorders such as depression and OCD
• Aims to sever nerve firbres and detroy brain tissue in order to prevent the localised part of the brain from functioning
• This should supress the symptoms of the disorder while allowing other parts of the brain to function normally

Question 3

Give an example of psychosurgery

Answer 3

Destroying the fibres in the frontal lobe of a depressed person (as this regulates mood) should alleviate their symptoms of distressing thoughts and anxiety

Question 4

When was the prefrontal lobotomy first used

Answer 4

1930’s

Question 5

What did the prefrontal lobotomy involve

Answer 5

• Destroying tissue in the frontal lobe
• Holes were drilled in either side of the skull and an instrument resembling an ice pick was inserted to detroy nerve fibres

Question 6

What 2 procedures were developed from the prefrontal lobotomy

Answer 6

• Leucotomy
• Transorbital lobotomy

Question 7

Describe a leucotomy

Answer 7

• Narrow device (leucotome) inserted into rge frontal lobe
• Retractable wire loop was then extended and rotated in order to destroy nerve fibres

Question 8

Describe transorbital lobotomy

Answer 8

• Knife known as an ice-pick was insterted under the eye lid into the back of the eye socket
• This would break through the skull and then be moved around in order to detroy nerve fibres
• This would be done through both eyes

Question 9

How has modern psychosurgery become far more precise and less invasive

Answer 9

• Instead of destroying large sections of frontal lobe tissue, MRI scans are carried out to locate exact points within the brain that can be served

Question 10

Describe bilateral cingulotomy

Answer 10

• MRI scans are carried out to locate exact points within the brain that can be served
• Carried out under anaesthetic
• Specific nerve fibres are burnt away by heating the tip of an electrode, or using a gamma knife to beam radiation at the specific location

Question 11

Describe Deep brain stimulation

Answer 11

• Surgeons thread wires through the skull but no brain tissue is destroyed
• The wires remain embedded in the brain and are connected to an external battery pack
• The current will interupt brain circuitory involved in the mental disorder being treated
• Can be turned off and brain goes back to normal at any point