Prefrontal Cortex Lesions from Neurosurgeon and Patient Perspective :: Surgery Surgical Health Essays

pre head-on Cortex Lesions from Neurosurgeon and Patient Perspective In this paper, I lead discuss lesions of the pre facade cerebral cortex from the perspective of the practice of neurosurgery (in particular, the sub-field of psychosurgery) and then I will consider some studies that look at the implications of lesions to the prefrontal cortex to the hit and behavior, from the perspective of the patient with the lesion. Initially, I will start with the fib and explanation of psychosurgery. Psychosurgery is the branch of neurosurgery that involves severing or otherwise disabling areas of the mind-set to treat a personality disorder, behavior disorder, or other affable illness (Rodgers 1992). Modern psycho functional techniques target the pathways between the limbic system (the fate of the brain on the inner edge of the cerebral cortex) that is believed to regulate emotions, and the frontal cortex, where thought processes are seated. The field of neurosurgery as a specialty was non defined until the end of the 19th century. In earlier days, surgeries had to be custom-built to poor lighting and lack of magnification (Valenstein 1986). The development and implementation of the direct microscope in the 1960s allowed surgeons to operate through a narrow cut into to resect deep-seated lesions (Valenstein 1986). Psychosurgery, and lobotomy in particular, reached the height of use adept after World War II. Between 1946 and 1949, the use of the lobotomy grew from euchre to 5,000 annual procedures in the United States (Valenstein 1986). Lobotomy is a psychosurgical procedure involving selective destruction of connective nerve fibers or tissue. It is performed on the frontal lobe of the brain and its purpose is to alleviate mental illness and chronic pain symptoms (Valenstein 1986). At that time, the procedure was viewed as a possible solution to the overcrowded and understaffed conditions in state-run mental hospitals and asylums. Known as prefrontal or transorbital lobotomy, depending on the surgical technique used and area of the brain targeted, these early operations were performed with surgical knives, electrodes, suction, or ice picks, to cut or sweep out portions of the frontal lobe. Todays psychosurgical techniques are much more refined. These technological advances include the use of computer- help stereotaxis, intra-operative ultrasound, brain mapping and endoscopy. Minimally invasive surgery is a major advance in neurosurgery and refers not only to a more throttle skin incision