BILLBOARDS ACROSS USA. BARGAIN; JUST $300 to GET A LOBOTOMY
100k to 300k PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED and DIED. YET AGAIN, WHO WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE !!!!
Top 10 Fascinating And Notable Lobotomies - http://listverse.com/2009/06/24/top-10-fascinating-and-notable-lobotomies/
100k to 300k PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED and DIED. YET AGAIN, WHO WAS HELD RESPONSIBLE !!!!
Top 10 Fascinating And Notable Lobotomies - http://listverse.com/2009/06/24/top-10-fascinating-and-notable-lobotomies/
Twenty five years later the workings of the brain may still be very much a mystery to science but this has not stopped the surgical methods to get at it being refined. "Stereotactic surgery without opening the skull and without blood (even the patient's head doesn't need to be shaved) is possible with a revolutionary technique called radiosurgery. The destruction of nervous or vascular tissue inside the brain is achieved by projecting thin and powerful beams of ionizing radiation, coming from several angles around the patient's head. They are produced by linear accelerators, machines used in high energy particle physics, or by sources of radioactive cobalt (the "gamma knife", developed in the 60s by the Swedish neurosurgeon Lars Leksell).
In this way, radiation energy concentrates into a single, small point inside the brain, while the surrounding, healthy tissues are spared damage. Despite all this technical progress, however, psychosurgery is practiced less and less. The problem is no longer a technical one; or a lack of knowledge of what to do. The problem is of ethical and political nature. Psychosurgery will never be performed "en masse" as the old lobotomy, without evaluation of precise indication. "
From: The History of Psychosurgery Author: Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD Source: Brain & Mind Magazine, June 1997
In this way, radiation energy concentrates into a single, small point inside the brain, while the surrounding, healthy tissues are spared damage. Despite all this technical progress, however, psychosurgery is practiced less and less. The problem is no longer a technical one; or a lack of knowledge of what to do. The problem is of ethical and political nature. Psychosurgery will never be performed "en masse" as the old lobotomy, without evaluation of precise indication. "
From: The History of Psychosurgery Author: Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD Source: Brain & Mind Magazine, June 1997
MORE INFORMATION COMING SHORTLY....
A QUICK TOUR OF THE HUMAN BRAIN – IT IS AMAZING!
Development & Protective features:
· During the prenatal period the brain begins formation as a fluid filled tube.
· The hollow center becomes convoluted as development proceeds, folding over on itself to form the VENTRICALS, cavities full of cerebrospinal fluid in the center of the brain. There are 4 ventricles (2 lateral, a third and fourth).
· There is a thin layer of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the whole brain and several membranes around this – a tough outer membrane called the DURA (hard) matter, and an inner membrane called the PIA (soft) matter.
The Brainstem (Hindbrain & Midbrain Structures)
The brainstem refers to the top of the spinal cord, where the thickness of the cord starts to increase and gradually transitions into the brain.
Development & Protective features:
· During the prenatal period the brain begins formation as a fluid filled tube.
· The hollow center becomes convoluted as development proceeds, folding over on itself to form the VENTRICALS, cavities full of cerebrospinal fluid in the center of the brain. There are 4 ventricles (2 lateral, a third and fourth).
· There is a thin layer of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the whole brain and several membranes around this – a tough outer membrane called the DURA (hard) matter, and an inner membrane called the PIA (soft) matter.
The Brainstem (Hindbrain & Midbrain Structures)
The brainstem refers to the top of the spinal cord, where the thickness of the cord starts to increase and gradually transitions into the brain.
The hindbrain:
· Medulla (medulla oblongata) controls vital life functions such as breathing, circulation and muscle tone.
· Pons – connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum to helps coordinate and integrates movements on each side of the body.
· Cerebellum – is a large (2nd largest structure in the brain) part of the brain responsible for muscle coordination, fine motor movement, posture & equilibrium.
· Reticular Formation – network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps to regulate temperature, arousal/awareness, and sleep (also known as the RAS). Interesting factoid – birds among other critters don’t have an RAS, thus the line between sleep and waking for them is much more sharply defined (they are either asleep or awake, they don’t gradually sink into to sleep as we do).
The midbrain:
· Thalamus – Sits on top of the brainstem, major relay center for all senses EXCEPT smell (olfactory bulb.)
· Colliculi (inferior and superior) – relay stations for auditory and visual input to the brain.
· Substantia nigra – motor control, large concentrations of dopamine producing neurons (that are affected in a condition such as Parkinson’s).
· Medulla (medulla oblongata) controls vital life functions such as breathing, circulation and muscle tone.
· Pons – connects the medulla to the two sides of the cerebellum to helps coordinate and integrates movements on each side of the body.
· Cerebellum – is a large (2nd largest structure in the brain) part of the brain responsible for muscle coordination, fine motor movement, posture & equilibrium.
· Reticular Formation – network of nerve fibers located in the center of the medulla that helps to regulate temperature, arousal/awareness, and sleep (also known as the RAS). Interesting factoid – birds among other critters don’t have an RAS, thus the line between sleep and waking for them is much more sharply defined (they are either asleep or awake, they don’t gradually sink into to sleep as we do).
The midbrain:
· Thalamus – Sits on top of the brainstem, major relay center for all senses EXCEPT smell (olfactory bulb.)
· Colliculi (inferior and superior) – relay stations for auditory and visual input to the brain.
· Substantia nigra – motor control, large concentrations of dopamine producing neurons (that are affected in a condition such as Parkinson’s).
The forebrain:
The border of the midbrain and forebrain is comprised of the LIMBIC SYSTEM. This can be though of as an older cortex (archeocortex) area, brain structures that we share in common with animal life that appeared on the planet before we did. Involved in emotion, learning and memory
Limbic System:
· Hypothalamus (“below” thalamus: A peanut-sized forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and regulates behaviors related to survival – eating, drinking and sex. The hypothalamus regulates the pituitary gland and its secretions. By fooling around experimentally (lesioning) this structure you can get abnormal variations in hunger and thirst (using lab rats and the like). We’ll visit again with this later, too.
· Hippocampus: (from the Greek for horse sea monster) A primitive cerebral cortex, in humans it’s an important area involved in learning and forming new memories. Will revisit in the chapter about memory.
· Amygdala: An almond-shaped limbic system structure involved in emotion (particularly aggression) and memory.
The Cerebral Cortex (neocortex or cerebrum):
· The BASAL GANGLIA: (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus) receive information from the substantia nigra & thalamus – thus their involvement in dopamine related brain pathology.
· Corpus Callosum – bundle of connecting fibers between the two cerebral hemispheres.
The association areas of the cerebral hemispheres (back to front).
· Occipital – this is the primary visual cortex, receives visual input via the retina and the optic nerve. When you are hit on the back of the head, you see stars because of the involvement of visual cortex.
· Parietal – top/middle. Processes somatic sensations from touch receptors, involved in visual spatial activity.
· Temporal – area on the cerebral cortex near the temples and ears that is the primary receiving center for auditory information and seems to be involved in memory (HM example).
· Frontal Lobes – the largest lobe, the most specifically human skills – process voluntary muscle action, involved in thinking, planning and emotional expression and CONTROL. Primary motor cortex/homunculus, most area devoted to lips and hands (these bleed more too.) Skills not measured well by IQ tests yet people cannot function without these skills (lobotomy and frontotemporal dementia examples).
The border of the midbrain and forebrain is comprised of the LIMBIC SYSTEM. This can be though of as an older cortex (archeocortex) area, brain structures that we share in common with animal life that appeared on the planet before we did. Involved in emotion, learning and memory
Limbic System:
· Hypothalamus (“below” thalamus: A peanut-sized forebrain structure that is part of the limbic system and regulates behaviors related to survival – eating, drinking and sex. The hypothalamus regulates the pituitary gland and its secretions. By fooling around experimentally (lesioning) this structure you can get abnormal variations in hunger and thirst (using lab rats and the like). We’ll visit again with this later, too.
· Hippocampus: (from the Greek for horse sea monster) A primitive cerebral cortex, in humans it’s an important area involved in learning and forming new memories. Will revisit in the chapter about memory.
· Amygdala: An almond-shaped limbic system structure involved in emotion (particularly aggression) and memory.
The Cerebral Cortex (neocortex or cerebrum):
· The BASAL GANGLIA: (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus) receive information from the substantia nigra & thalamus – thus their involvement in dopamine related brain pathology.
· Corpus Callosum – bundle of connecting fibers between the two cerebral hemispheres.
The association areas of the cerebral hemispheres (back to front).
· Occipital – this is the primary visual cortex, receives visual input via the retina and the optic nerve. When you are hit on the back of the head, you see stars because of the involvement of visual cortex.
· Parietal – top/middle. Processes somatic sensations from touch receptors, involved in visual spatial activity.
· Temporal – area on the cerebral cortex near the temples and ears that is the primary receiving center for auditory information and seems to be involved in memory (HM example).
· Frontal Lobes – the largest lobe, the most specifically human skills – process voluntary muscle action, involved in thinking, planning and emotional expression and CONTROL. Primary motor cortex/homunculus, most area devoted to lips and hands (these bleed more too.) Skills not measured well by IQ tests yet people cannot function without these skills (lobotomy and frontotemporal dementia examples).
