if you were stranded on a desert island with a sufferer of "an unusual neurological state," which state would it be?

Kluver-Bucy Syndrome: "Damage to the front of the temporal lobe and the amygdala just below it can result in the strange condition called Kluver-Bucy Syndrome. Classically, the person will try to put anything to hand into their mouths and typically attempt to have sexual intercourse with it. A classic example is of the unfortunate chap arrested whilst attempting to have sex with the pavement. Effectively, it is the 'what' pathway that is damaged with regards to foodstuff and sexual partner. As Ramachandran puts it, 'they are not hypersexual, just indiscriminate.'"

Cotard's Syndrome: "Named after a French psychiatrist Jules Cotard, this syndrome is characterized by the patient believing that he is dead, a walking corpse. This 'delusion' is usually expanded to the degree that the patient might claim that he can smell his own rotting flesh and feel worms crawling through his skin."

Capgras' Syndrome: "Brilliantly described by Ramachandran, Capgras' syndrome is another neurological syndrome that is often mistaken for insanity. The Capgras' patient will typically identify people close to them as being imposters - identical in every possible way, but identical replicas. Classically, the patient will accept living with these imposters but will secretly 'know' that they are not the people they claim to be."

---From A Collection of Unusual Neurological States, found via Quiddity

Posted by nchicha at February 26, 2004 03:59 AM
Comments

Pronoia -
the sneaking suspicion others are conspiring to help you (and you them!) ; the suspicion the Universe is a conspiracy on your behalf ; the opposite of paranoia

http://www.pronoia.net/def.html

Posted by: Peter K. on February 26, 2004 03:30 PM

Capgras' Syndrome is so Invasion of the Body Snatchers that I have to love it. And who knows, maybe these people aren't delusional. But now I'm sounding paranoid. Gotta run! bye

Posted by: Mark on February 26, 2004 04:27 PM

this is me

Posted by: bennabenna on February 26, 2004 10:53 PM

Stranded on a desert island with the sufferer of my choice? Hmm, I'll have to go with Kluver-Bucy Syndrome. Seeing as they confuse sexual partners with foodstuffs, they're bound to put their mouth on something of mine eventually, right? Does that sound terribly opportunistic of me?

A friend passed on a link to your site warning me that I would love it so much it would fill me with feelings of inadequacy. I have to wholly concur; it's quite fabulous. Great work!

Posted by: taiwan_on on March 19, 2004 01:55 PM
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