Apotemnophilia: a neurological disorder

Authors
Paul McGeoch, V. S. Ramachandran and David Brang

Source
Neuroreport. 19(13):1305-1306, August 27, 2008.

Abstract
Apotemnophilia, a disorder that blurs the distinction between neurology and psychiatry, is characterized by the intense and longstanding desire for amputation of a speci¢c limb. Here we present evidence from two individuals suggestive that this condition, long thought to be entirely psychological in origin, actually has a neurological basis.We found heightened skin conductance response to pinprick below the desired line of amputation. We propose apotemnophilia arises from congenital dysfunction of the right superior parietal lobule and its connectionwith the insula.

Analysis
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