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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2017; 75(05): 307-313
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20170040
VIEW AND REVIEW

Evolving story: trepanation and self-trepanation to enhance brain function

Uma história em andamento: trepanação e auto-trepanação para aumentar a função cerebral
Charles André
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
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ABSTRACT

Trepanation has been performed by people interested in enhancing mental power and well-being since the early 1960s. The pioneers and main proponents of the procedure are described here. The phenomenon appeared in Europe after a Dutch former medical student published a psychoactive drug-friendly scroll suggesting trepanation as a form of permanently increasing cerebral blood volume and function. He trepanned himself in 1965. Three of his friends became enthusiasts. They also submitted themselves to the procedure and published films and books describing their experiences. Two of them coauthored papers, in collaboration with Russian researchers, and created institutions to promote discussion on trepanation. One of these institutions organized trips to Central and South America to get the operation done. Dozens of people nowadays look for trepanation as a method of spiritualization and increasing well-being and mental power. The phenomenon has an uncertain future, however, as the main proponents and supporters are aging.

RESUMO

Trepanação vem sendo feita por pessoas em busca de aumento da capacidade mental e bem estar desde a década de 1960. Os pioneiros e maiores proponentes do procedimento são aqui descritos. O fençmeno surgiu na Europa estimulado pela publicação de um manuscrito psicodélico e pela auto-trepanação feita por um ex-aluno de Medicina holandês, já falecido. Três amigos se tornaram entusiastas e também se submeteram a trepanação, apresentando o procedimento e descrevendo seus efeitos em livros ou filmes de certa repercussão. Dois deles criaram organizações de difusão e discussão sobre o tema, e uma destas instituições agencia e organiza viagens a países da América Central e do Sul para interessados. Trepanação foi feita até aqui com estes propósitos em dúzias de pessoas. O fençmeno tem, porém, futuro incerto, dado o envelhecimento de seus principais entusiastas.

trephining - psychotropic drugs - self-injurious behavior - anthropology, cultural
trepanação - psicotrópicos - comportamento autodestrutivo - antropologia cultural


Publication History

Received: 03 February 2017

Accepted: 13 February 2017

Article published online:
05 September 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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