Cingulotomy

Cingulotomy is a form of brain surgery and is used to treat depression when all other forms of treatments have been futile. It is basically performed to ease chronic pain but is found to alleviate symptoms associated with depressive illness.

In this treatment, cingulate gyrus, which is a long curved structure on the medial surface of the cerebral hemispheres, is applied with heat or cold. This is done to interrupt the cingulated gyrus.

Since this is a new treatment, nothing much is known about its side effects. No loss of memory or intelligence has been reported.