Decere

Decere is a term used historically in neuroscience as an abbreviation for decerebration, a surgical procedure that disconnects the cerebral hemispheres from the brainstem. The aim was to study the functions of the brainstem and spinal cord in isolation from higher brain centers. In laboratory settings, animals such as cats and dogs were prepared for a decerebrate preparation by transecting neural connections at varying levels of the brain. The level of transection determined which neural structures remained intact and which functions were preserved; common approaches include precollicular or midbrain transection.

After decerebration, spontaneous and reflexive motor activity can persist; the cortex no longer exerts voluntary control, and brainstem circuits drive locomotion and reflexes. The preparation allowed researchers to examine fundamental neural reflexes and the organization of brainstem networks, sleep-wake cycles, and autonomic control.

In clinical neurology, the term decerebrate is still used to describe a posture observed after severe brain injury, in which the arms and legs are extended, the wrists flexed, and the jaw clenched; this "decerebrate posture" reflects brainstem involvement, often with poor prognosis. The distinction between decerebrate and decorticate posturing helps indicate the level of hemisphere disruption.

Today, decerebration as an experimental technique is largely of historical interest and is rarely performed in modern humane research due to advances in less invasive methods and ethical standards.