Question

The prefrontal lobotomy was based on observations of one chimpanzee, whose behavior changed after receiving bilateral lesions to her prefrontal lobe. Largely on this evidence, doctors performed prefrontal lobotomies on human patients who suffered from psychiatric disorders to calm them down. Please answer the following two questions:

1) What was wrong with the progression of prefrontal lobotomies from a primate to widespread use in humans?

2) What scientific questions should have been asked before the technique was used on people?

Note: Unquestionably some doctors used this procedure out of care and compassion for their patients, but that is not the point of this RT. Your answer should focus on the scientific/biological factors.

Answer 1

1. Although the brain anatomy of primates and human beings are similar, they are far from being the same. Procedures such as prefrontal lobotomies performed on primates cannot be generalised to humans as the structure and function of the human brain is extremely intricate and complex, and not understood fully. Furthermore, the range of behaviours than can be displayed by a primate is much lower than that of a human being and thus behavioural changes in primates as a result of lobotomies will not correspond to those expected in humans.

2. The scientific questions that should have been asked was the precise role of the prefrontal cortex on the behaviour of primates and humans beings. Since the prefrontal cortex in is involved in higher order cognitive functions which is much more complex in humans, damage to this area would obviously result in different consequences. Individuals with lesions and damage to the prefrontal cortex could have been used as models in this regard.