decerebrate
/diːˈsɛrəbreɪt/
adjective
- Having had the brain removed or destroyed; lacking brain function.
- The decerebrate posture — arms extended and legs straight — is a sign of severe brain damage.
- The decerebrate cat still showed reflex movements when its paw was pinched.
- After the accident, the patient was in a decerebrate state with no higher brain activity.
Synonyms
verb
- To remove or destroy the brain of (an animal or human), especially for experimental purposes.
- Historically, scientists would decerebrate specimens to observe basic motor functions.
- In the lab, researchers decerebrate frogs to study spinal reflexes.
- The procedure to decerebrate the animal was performed under strict ethical guidelines.