The Cognitive Characteristics of PNE Children with Different Genders: A Resting-State fMRI Study
Kaihua Jiang1, Yang Yi1, Li Ding1
1Department of Pediatrics, Changzhou Children's Hospital of Nantong University, Changzhou, China.
Insights
Girls with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) show greater cognitive deficits in attention and executive function compared to boys. Resting-state fMRI revealed distinct brain activity patterns in PNE girls, suggesting potential confidence impairment impacts cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is common in children.
- Understanding gender-specific cognitive differences in PNE is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and behavioral tests offer insights into brain function and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender-based differences in brain mechanisms and behavioral performance in children with PNE.
- To utilize rs-fMRI and attention behavior research to explore cognitive functional disparities.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 32 children with PNE (15 boys, 17 girls) and 35 controls (16 boys, 19 girls), aged 5-11 years.
- Analyzed brain activity using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) via rs-fMRI.
- Assessed attention and executive function using the continuous performance test (CPT), recording correct responses and reaction times.
Main Results:
- No significant ALFF differences were found between normal boys and girls.
- PNE boys exhibited higher ALFF in the right middle frontal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule, and right posterior cerebellar lobe compared to PNE girls.
- CPT showed lower reaction times in PNE and normal boys compared to girls, with no significant difference in correct response rates.
Conclusions:
- Girls with PNE demonstrated more pronounced impairments in attention, executive function, and working memory than boys.
- Confidence impairment in girls with PNE may contribute to cognitive dysfunction.
- ALFF analysis using rs-fMRI offers a novel method for studying cognitive characteristics in PNE children.
Objectives:
To study the brain mechanism and behavioral performance of cognitive functional differences between children with primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) of different genders by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and attention behavior research.
Methods:
All the children participating the test were 5-11 years old including 32 PNE children (15 boys and 17 girls) and 35 normal children (16 boys and 19 girls). They respectively went through MRI scan and the data were analyzed by the method of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF). Then continuous performance test (CPT) was done and the correct number and reaction time were recorded. The between-group variance was analyzed by two sample t-test.
Results:
1. fMRI: There were no obviously different brain regions of ALFF between normal boys and girls. The brain regions which had obvious differences of ALFF between PNE boys and girls were right middle frontal gyrus, left inferior parietal lobule and right posterior cerbellar lobe. And the group of PNE boys were higher than PNE girls on all the three regions (P < 0.05). 2. CPT: The reaction time of PNE and normal boys was both lower than those of girls, but there were no obvious differences on the correct number.
Conclusion:
This study found that girls with PNE performed more obvious damages on attention, executive function and working memory than boys which might be related to the fact that girls were more likely to suffer from confidence impairment due to enuresis leading to cognitive dysfunctions. The method of ALFF based on resting-state fMRI provided a new approach for studying the cognitive characteristics of PNE children.
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