Gastro-duodenal motility: 24 hour continuous recordings in normal subjects

Twenty four-hour continuous recordings of gastric and duodenal motor activity were obtained in 12 normal subjects. A regular, cyclical variation in gastro-duodenal motility, consisting of periods of intesnse activity for 15--30 minutes alternating with periods of almost complete quiescence during the following 30--90 minutes, was noted in all subjects. All wave types previously described in short term studies were observed. Antral and duodenal activity were often linked, but there were many occasions when either occurred independently. Motor activity while the patient slept differed little from the waking pattern. There was no consistent motility pattern which could be associated with the subjects' hunger sensation. Eating was followed by a significant increase in duodenal motor activity which has not been previously described; the authors assume it to be due to endogenous gastrin release.