Bilateral cingulotomy
The
bilateral cingulotomy is a modern
psychosurgical technique of disabling the
cingulate gyrus, a small section of brain that connects the limbic region of the brain with the frontal lobes. It has replaced the
lobotomy and is performed to alleviate mental disorders such as major
depression,
bipolar disorder, or
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which have not responded to
psychotherapy, behavioral therapy,
electroshock, or pharmacologic treatment. Bilateral cingulotomies are also performed to treat chronic pain in
cancer patients.