Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Perseveration
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Perseveration is defined as uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.
If an issue has been fully breached and discussed to a point of resolution it is not uncommon for something to trigger the re-investigation of the matter. This can happen at any time during a conversation. This is particularly true with those who have had traumatic brain injuries.
Those with Asperger’s syndrome also display a form of perseveration in that they focus on one or a number of narrow interests. A person with Asperger’s might go to a department store repeatedly to look at air conditioners.
Several researchers have tried to connect perseveration with a lack of inhibition; however, this connection could not be found, or was small.[1][2]
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [3]