Skip to main content

Hypersexuality/Hyposexuality

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology

Definition

Hypersexuality and hyposexuality refer to levels of sexual interest and/or activity that are unusually high or low, respectively. Marked changes in the sexual behavior may reflect biological or psychological conditions. Hypersexuality or hyposexuality may reflect changes in acute or long-term endocrine and neurological or psychological functioning. The behavioral disinhibition often seen after traumatic brain injury may take the form of sexual “acting out,” but diminished libido occurs frequently as well.

Cross References

Kluver Bucy Syndrome

Sexual Disinhibition

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,350.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Gorman, D. G., & Cummings, J. L. (1992). Hypersexuality following septal injury. Archieves of Neurology, 49(3), 308–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, B. L., Cummings, J. L., McIntyre, H., Ebber, G., & Grode, M. (1986). Hypersexuality or altered sexual preference following brain injury. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 49(8), 867–873.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zasler, N., & Martelli, M. (2005). Sexual dysfunction. In J. Silver, T. McAllister, & S. Yudovsky (Eds.), Textbook of traumatic brain injury. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Frank, R. (2011). Hypersexuality/Hyposexuality. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_2091

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics