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Intensive playing leads to non-monosymptomatic enuresis in children with low prepulse inhibition

S Schulz-Juergensen1, L Bolte, J Gebhardt

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University Clinics of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany. schulz-juergensen@pediatrics.uni-kiel.de

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|November 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with non-monosymptomatic enuresis (nmE) exhibit lower sensory-motor gating, evidenced by reduced prepulse inhibition (PPI) during concentration. This impaired gating may explain wetting during activities like intensive playing.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Urology

Background:

  • Children with non-monosymptomatic enuresis (nmE) often experience wetting during activities requiring concentration, such as intensive playing.
  • Enuresis is associated with reduced bladder control, measurable through prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate changes in PPI during concentration in children with and without enuresis.
  • To determine if these PPI changes are more pronounced in children with daytime incontinence (nmE).

Main Methods:

  • Prepulse inhibition (PPI) was measured in 44 healthy children, 40 with nmE, and 37 with monosymptomatic enuresis (mE).
  • PPI was assessed during a relaxed state (watching DVD) and a concentrated state (playing a video game).

Main Results:

  • All groups showed a decrease in PPI during concentration. Healthy controls: 54% to 34.5%. Monosymptomatic enuresis (mE): 66% to 51%. Non-monosymptomatic enuresis (nmE): 29% to 21%.
  • While the PPI decrease was smallest in the nmE group, their overall PPI levels remained significantly lower than controls and mE groups.

Conclusions:

  • Impaired sensory-motor gating is a key factor in the etiology of nmE.
  • Reduced PPI during concentration provides a neurophysiological explanation for wetting episodes in children with nmE during play.
Abstract

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