lobotomize
Cut neural connections
Lobotomize means to perform a lobotomy on someone—a surgical procedure that severs connections in the brain's prefrontal lobe, once used to treat mental illness but now largely abandoned due to its devastating effects on personality and cognition.
The figurative use is more common today: to lobotomize something is to strip it of vitality, complexity, or intelligence.
The studio lobotomized the script until nothing interesting remained.
Years of bureaucracy had lobotomized the department.
Medical field treating brain surgically
- prefrontalBefore the frontal lobe
- leucotomyPrefrontal nerve-severing procedure
- transorbitalThrough the eye socket
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
craniotomy · scalpel · trepanation · anesthesia · resection · surgical · operation · surgeon
Reduced intellectual functioning
- personality changeAltered characteristic behavior patterns
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- apathyAbsence of feeling
- incontinenceInability to retain waste
seizures · vegetative · memory loss · passivity · compliance · zombie-like · diminished · impaired
Shelter from persecution
- 1940sFourth decade, twentieth century
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- institutionalizationEstablishing as norm or standard
- psychiatric hospitalFacility for mental treatment
Walter Freeman · Nobel Prize · mental institution · antipsychiatry · deinstitutionalization · state hospital · therapeutic · One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Make less intellectually demanding
- numbLacking physical sensation
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- sanitizeCleanse of pathogens
- defangRemove ability to harm
gut · strip · emasculate · neuter · bowdlerize · censor · suppress · pacify
Study of right conduct
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
- inhumaneCallously causing suffering
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
autonomy · human rights · exploitation · outrage · condemnation · stigma · taboo · abuse
neurosurgery
Medical field treating brain surgically
- prefrontalBefore the frontal lobe
- leucotomyPrefrontal nerve-severing procedure
- transorbitalThrough the eye socket
incision · craniotomy · scalpel · trepanation · anesthesia · resection · surgical · operation · surgeon · cortex
cognitive deficits
Reduced intellectual functioning
- personality changeAltered characteristic behavior patterns
- docileEasily controlled or taught
- apathyAbsence of feeling
incontinence · seizures · vegetative · memory loss · passivity · compliance · zombie-like · diminished · impaired · subdued
asylum
Shelter from persecution
- 1940sFourth decade, twentieth century
- 1950sDecade after WWII
- institutionalizationEstablishing as norm or standard
psychiatric hospital · Walter Freeman · Nobel Prize · mental institution · antipsychiatry · deinstitutionalization · state hospital · therapeutic · One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
dumb down
Make less intellectually demanding
- numbLacking physical sensation
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- sanitizeCleanse of pathogens
defang · gut · strip · emasculate · neuter · bowdlerize · censor · suppress · pacify · sedate
ethics
Study of right conduct
- consentVoluntary agreement given
- malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
- inhumaneCallously causing suffering
coercion · autonomy · human rights · exploitation · outrage · condemnation · stigma · taboo · abuse · victim
lobotomizestimulate
Provoke into activity
invigorate · energize · enliven · quicken · vitalize
lobotomizeheal
Restore to wellness
rehabilitate · therapy · psychotherapy · treat · cure
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