Surgery to sever nerve fibres in the front of the brain (8)

I believe the answer is:

lobotomy

(Other definitions for lobotomy that I've seen before include "Brain surgery" , "Incision into front lobe of brain, once used for mental disorders" , "Brain operation for some mental disorders" , "Brain operation, once used to treat mental illness" , "Surgery used to treat intractable mental disorders" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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