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posted by janrinok on Friday June 26 2015, @07:45PM   Printer-friendly

Wired reports:

A brain surgeon begins an anterior cingulotomy by drilling a small hole into a patient's skull. The surgeon then inserts a tiny blade, cutting a path through brain tissue, then inserts a probe past sensitive nerves and bundles of blood vessels until it reaches a specific cluster of neural connections, a kind of switchboard linking emotional triggers to cognitive tasks. With the probe in place, the surgeon fires up a laser, burning away tissue until the beam has hollowed out about half a teaspoon of grey matter.

This is the shape of modern psychosurgery: Ablating parts of the brain to treat mental illnesses. Which might remind you of that maligned procedure, the lobotomy. But psychosurgeries are different. And not just because the ethics are better today; because the procedures actually work. Removing parts of a person's brain is always a dicey proposition. But for people who are mentally ill, when pills and psychiatry offer no solace, the laser-tipped probe can be a welcome relief.


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  • (Score: 2) by zugedneb on Friday June 26 2015, @09:14PM

    by zugedneb (4556) on Friday June 26 2015, @09:14PM (#201790)

    That story make the assumption that the actions of a criminal in response to a desire.
    I leaves out the same thing as modrn psychology: insight.

    The one who acts knows exactly what it is being done.
    Keyword, motherfuckers, is KNOWS.

    In real life, knowledge > desire.
    In psychology, desire > knowledge.

    I see an conflict of interest.

    --
    old saying: "a troll is a window into the soul of humanity" + also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax
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  • (Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday June 26 2015, @10:19PM

    by Gravis (4596) on Friday June 26 2015, @10:19PM (#201829)

    i think you mean logic and emotions.

    In real life, knowledge > desire.
    In psychology, desire > knowledge.

    wrong, in real life and psychology, logical and emotional systems compete for influence.

    i think you mistake their position because generally, a psychologist's job is to help people manage emotions using logical systems.

    • (Score: 2) by zugedneb on Friday June 26 2015, @10:52PM

      by zugedneb (4556) on Friday June 26 2015, @10:52PM (#201847)

      That is a very mature and adult way of putting it.
      It holds until you end up in court, or end up in workplace conflict, or "child placement conflict" at divorce.

      Any trace of reason will make the reasoning one painted devil, and any act of emotion will make the other the poor victim.

      "Real Life" is not the actual signal processing in the brain, it is the "show" you have to put on.

      --
      old saying: "a troll is a window into the soul of humanity" + also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax
      • (Score: 2) by Gravis on Saturday June 27 2015, @02:16AM

        by Gravis (4596) on Saturday June 27 2015, @02:16AM (#201953)

        It holds until you end up in court, or end up in workplace conflict, or "child placement conflict" at divorce.

        the courtroom has little to do with reality. referring to it as "real life" is just insulting.

  • (Score: 2) by tathra on Saturday June 27 2015, @05:06PM

    by tathra (3367) on Saturday June 27 2015, @05:06PM (#202131)

    The one who acts knows exactly what it is being done.
    Keyword, motherfuckers, is KNOWS.

    knowing what you're doing doesn't mean you can stop it. poor impulse control is a real thing, lots of people don't even require drugs to reach that state.