Regarding the experimental neurophysiological basis of psychosurgery

A survey is given, on reports in the literature and personal experiences, on the neurophysiological basis of psychosurgery. Animal experiments as well as clinical-experimental observations in human beings are reviewed, following the usual present day targets: frontal lobe, cingulum, amygdala, thalamic and hypothalamic areas and anterior internal capsule. As a result, it has to be stated that there are no definite data resulting from animal experiments which could sustain the neurophysiological basis of psychosurgery. For psychiatric diseases animals are definitely not an adequate model. Therefore it is considered to be our neurosurgical duty to collect experimental data in human beings in a methodically proper manner and with respect to our ethical precepts.