2009/11/19 by Julie Devinsky, Oliver Sacks, Orrin Devinsky · 1 citation
Neuroscience · Medicine · Psychology · #Neurology and Historical Studies #Historical and Scientific Studies #Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
paper · doi:10.1080/13554790903329182
openalex publication_date 2009/11/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
A 51-year-old right-handed man developed hypersexuality after a second right temporal lobectomy to treat epilepsy. His hypersexuality started with increased marital intercourse and masturbation but he later downloaded child pornography. Hyperphagia and distractibility, other features of the Kluver-Bucy syndrome, also developed. Resection of the amygdala and/or temporal lobe neocortical areas that inhibit other limbic areas may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypersexuality. Neurological factors mitigate the criminal responsibility for hypersexual activity in patients with Kluver-Bucy syndrome. Most previously reported patients were never charged with a crime despite uninvited physical contact in some instances. Our patient was convicted and imprisoned.