Psychosurgery Health Article

KEY TERMS

Gamma knife—A surgical tool that focuses beams of radiation at the head, which converge in the brain to form a lesion.

Lesion—Any discontinuity of tissue. Often a cut or wound.

Limbic system—A portion of the brain on the inner edge of the cerebral cortex that is thought to regulate emotions.

Psychosurgery—Brain surgery performed to alleviate chronic psychological conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and bipolar disorder.

Stereotactic technique—A technique used by neurosurgeons to pinpoint locations within the brain. It employs computer imaging to create an external frame of reference.