psychosurgery

English

Etymology

From psycho- +‎ surgery.

Noun

psychosurgery (countable and uncountable, plural psychosurgeries)

1. (surgery) Surgery of the brain to treat or alleviate mental illness.
   • 2017, Robert Sapolsky, chapter 2, in Behave, Penguin, →ISBN:

     This was studied in humans where amygdalotomies were done not to control seizures but to control aggression. Such psychosurgery provoked fiery controversy in the 1970s. And I don't mean scientists not saying hello to each other at conferences. I mean a major public shit storm.

Derived terms

• psychosurgeon
• psychosurgical

See also

• lobotomy
• neurosurgery