[Cerebral dysfunction and disorders of sexual behaviour (author's transl)]

The effects of epilepsy and focal brain lesions on sexual behaviour are described. Fits may be provoked by hypervenilation in epileptics during sexual activity, but also by orgasm and other sexual stimuli. Epileptic auras consisting of tactile genital sensations and sexual feelings, including orgasm, also occur. Post-ictal sexual automatisms consist of masturbation or other poorly structured activity, imitating the gestures of sexual intercourse. Focal brain lesions most commonly produce a reduction in sexual activity. However, frontal lobe lesions may produce disinhibition with inappropriate sexual behaviour and temporal lobe lesions may be associated with true hypersexuality, transvestite and transsexual behaviour. Eleven cases, which illustrate the various associations, are described.