Following a stroke, a patient exhibits unusually calm behavior and hypersexuality. Which area is likely affected?

Study for the ABPN Exam in Psychiatry and Neurology. Use our quiz with multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get ready to excel in your exam!

The symptoms described—unusually calm behavior and hypersexuality—suggest a disruption in the brain circuits that regulate emotions and social behavior. The amygdaloid bodies, or amygdalae, play a critical role in processing emotions, including fear, aggression, and sexual behavior.

When there is damage or dysfunction in the amygdala, individuals may exhibit altered emotional responses, which can manifest as inappropriate or overly calm behavior in contexts where emotional responses would typically be expected. Additionally, the amygdala is significantly involved in the regulation of sexual behavior; when this area is affected, it can lead to conditions such as hypersexuality.

This alignment with the symptoms presented in the question makes the amygdaloid bodies the most likely affected area in this case. The other areas mentioned, such as the nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, and occipital lobes, have different primary functions and do not directly correspond to the combination of symptoms observed. For example, while the hypothalamus is involved in various autonomic and endocrine functions, including sexual behavior, the specific combination of calmness and hypersexuality points more towards the amygdala's involvement.

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