Klüver-Bucy Syndrome

Klüver-Bucy Syndrome

The Klüver-Bucy syndrome consists of a variety of neurobehavioral changes, originally observed following bilateral temporal lobectomy (especially anterior tip) in monkeys, but subsequently described in man. The characteristic features, some or all of which may be present, are:

Visual agnosia (e.g., misrecognition of others) Hyperorality
Hyperphagia, binge eating Hypermetamorphosis Hypersexuality
Emotional changes: apathy; loss of fear, rage reactions Clinical causes of the Klüver-Bucy syndrome include:
Sequel of bilateral temporal lobectomy
Post-ictal phenomenon in a patient with a previous unilateral temporal lobectomy
Sequel to minor head trauma; subdural hematoma Tumor
Meningoencephalitis Pick’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease: especially hyperorality and hyperphagia, but it is rare to have all features

References

Anson JA, Kuhlman DT. Post-ictal Klüver-Bucy syndrome after temporal lobectomy. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry1993; 56: 311-313
Klüver H, Bucy P. Preliminary analysis of functions of the temporal lobes in monkeys. Archives of Neurology and Psychiatry 1939; 42: 979-1000.

Cross References

Apathy; Hypermetamorphosis; Hyperorality; Hyperphagia; Hypersexuality; Visual agnosia