Changes of sexual behavior related to temporal lobe disorders in man∗

Abstract

(hypermetamorphosis), a constant need to take everything to the mouth (oral tendencies), and a continuous inability to recognize objects (psychic blindness). These changes became known as the Kliiver-Bucy Syndrome and generated much interest in the relationship of the temporal lobes and behavior. It was apparent that the limbic, medial temporal portion of the temporal lobes was responsible for the behavioral changes. A few reports have indicated that the changes characteristic of the Kliiver-Bucy or Temporal Lobe Syndrome, including the hypersexuality, may also occur in man following bilateral anterior temporal lobectomies (Terzian, 1958). This radical operation was performed on a few chronic, debilitated schizophrenics and epileptics, but had to be quickly abandoned when its devastating effects-particularly a severe memory impairment became apparent. Gastaut and Collomb (1954) reported an equally striking sexual change in psychomotor (temporal lobe) epileptics. They had noted a marked global hyposexuality, concerning sexual interests and mechanisms alike, in more than half of their patients with this seizure disorder. The authors pointed out that the sexual change in temporal lobe epilepsy (hyposexuality) was not surprisingly the opposite of the change after bilateral temporal lobectomy (hypersexuality), since the former was due to the continuous excessive activity of the medial