Klüver-Bucy Syndrome: Definition, History, and Characteristics
Klüver-Bucy Syndrome (KBS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a cluster of behavioral symptoms, including hypersexuality, hyperorality, and emotional blunting. It is a disorder of the limbic system, a part of the brain which is responsible for emotions, motivation, and memory. KBS was first described by Heinrich Klüver and Paul Bucy in their 1937 paper “‘Psychomotor’ Phenomena Following Bilateral Temporal Lobectomy in Rhesus Monkeys”. To this day, it remains a relatively unknown disorder, yet it can have devastating effects on those who have it.
Definition
Klüver-Bucy syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a cluster of behavioral changes, including hypersexuality, hyperorality, and emotional blunting. It is a disorder of the limbic system, a part of the brain which is responsible for emotions, motivation, and memory. KBS is often seen in patients who have had temporal lobectomies, as well as those with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s chorea.
History
Klüver-Bucy syndrome was first described in 1937 by Heinrich Klüver and Paul Bucy in their paper “‘Psychomotor’ Phenomena Following Bilateral Temporal Lobectomy in Rhesus Monkeys”. In this study, they found that monkeys who had had bilateral temporal lobectomies displayed a range of behavioral changes, including hypersexuality, hyperorality, and emotional blunting.
Characteristics
Klüver-Bucy Syndrome typically presents with a cluster of behavioral symptoms, including hypersexuality, hyperorality, and emotional blunting. Hypersexuality is characterized by increased libido, increased sexual behavior, and increased sexual urges. Hyperorality is characterized by increased oral exploration, increased oral contact with objects, and increased consumption of food and drink. Emotional blunting is characterized by lack of emotional response and lack of fear.
Conclusion
Klüver-Bucy Syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a cluster of behavioral changes, including hypersexuality, hyperorality, and emotional blunting. It is a disorder of the limbic system, a part of the brain which is responsible for emotions, motivation, and memory. KBS was first described by Heinrich Klüver and Paul Bucy in their 1937 paper “‘Psychomotor’ Phenomena Following Bilateral Temporal Lobectomy in Rhesus Monkeys”. To this day, it remains a relatively unknown disorder, yet it can have devastating effects on those who have it.
References
Giancola, F., & D’Amelio, R. (2007). Klüver-Bucy Syndrome. CNS Spectrums, 12(03), 257-264.
Klüver, H., & Bucy, P. C. (1937). “Psychomotor” Phenomena Following Bilateral Temporal Lobectomy in Rhesus Monkeys. American Journal of Physiology, 119(4), 352-353.
Nestler, E. J. (1998). The Molecular Basis of Memory Storage: A Dialogue Between Genes and Synapses. Science, 279(5350), 1322-1325.
Pribram, K. H. (1971). Languages of the Brain: Experimental Paradoxes and Principles in Neuropsychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.