Kluver-Bucy syndrome, hypersexuality, and the law.
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.
Devinsky
Julie
J
New York University Langone School of Medicine, New York, USA. julierach@comcast.net
Sacks
Oliver
O
Devinsky
Orrin
O
D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D020232:Kluver-Bucy Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008032:Limbic System / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery