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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

An Experiment Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Robot-Assisted Multi-Joint Pointing Movements of the Lower Limb

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Gender differences in voluntary micturition control: an fMRI study.

S Seseke¹, J Baudewig, K Kallenberg

¹Department of Urology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany. srebman@gwdg.de

|August 30, 2008

Summary

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals similar brain networks for micturition control in men and women. However, men exhibit stronger brain activation during pelvic floor muscle contraction compared to women.

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Online Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Protocol for Measuring Cortical Physiology Associated with Response Inhibition

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Published on: February 8, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Urology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Functional imaging techniques like fMRI are crucial for mapping brain activity.
Understanding the neural control of micturition is vital for treating bladder dysfunction.
Gender differences in brain activation during micturition remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate gender-related differences in brain activation during micturition control using fMRI.
To compare fMRI-detected brain regions involved in pelvic floor muscle contraction and relaxation between healthy men and women.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at 3 Tesla was employed.
Twelve healthy men with an urge to void participated.
Participants performed repetitive pelvic floor muscle contractions and relaxations in a non-voiding model.

Main Results:

Both sexes showed significant brain activation in the brainstem and rostral areas during pelvic floor muscle tasks.
Men generally displayed stronger brain activation during muscle contraction compared to women.
Similar activation patterns were observed between sexes during muscle relaxation.
Key micturition control centers, including the pontine micturition center and periaqueductal gray, were identified in both genders.

Conclusions:

The study suggests that men and women share common cortical and subcortical brain networks for micturition control.
While the networks are similar, the intensity of brain activation during pelvic floor muscle control differs between sexes.