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A resting-state functional MRI study on central control of storage: brain response provoked by strong desire to void

  • Urology - Original Paper
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An Erratum to this article was published on 18 July 2015

Abstract

Aims

In order to observe central responses during naturally occurring urinary bladder storage in healthy subjects, we examined brain areas that control strong bladder sensation by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Methods

All subjects were right-handed and scanned twice under the following two conditions: empty bladder and full bladder (‘strong desire to void’) without the use of filling with a catheter. Brain imaging software (DPARSF and REST) was adopted to analyze the difference in brain–blood perfusion between the two conditions. Voxel-based analysis of the regional homogeneity (Reho) maps between empty and full bladder was performed with a paired t test. Statistical maps were set at P value <0.05 and were corrected for multiple comparisons.

Results

The rs-fMRI scans of 30 healthy subjects (8 men and 22 women, between 24 and 49 years of age) were analyzed. The responses became stronger in the state of strong desire to void (P < 0.05). Increased activity during strong desire to void was observed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hypothalamus, temporal lobes and left caudate nucleus, which are involved in bladder perception related to large volumes in adults.

Conclusions

There are significant changes in the brain’s Reho during the strong sensation to void. The results suggest that the PFC, the ACC, hypothalamus, temporal lobes and left caudate nucleus play a role in the cerebral control of bladder storage without artificial bladder filling in healthy people.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank all volunteers who participated in this experiment. This study was supported by the Scientific Research Funds of Capital Medical Development (No. 2014-2-4141) and Research Funds of Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders (No. 11421313).

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, China Rehabilitation Research Centre, No 10. Jiaomen Beilu, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100068, China

    Yi Gao & Limin Liao

  2. Department of Urology of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Yi Gao & Limin Liao

  3. Center of Neural Injury and Repair, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China

    Yi Gao & Limin Liao

  4. Department of Urology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Bertil F. M. Blok

Authors
  1. Yi Gao
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  2. Limin Liao
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  3. Bertil F. M. Blok
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Limin Liao.

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Gao, Y., Liao, L. & Blok, B.F.M. A resting-state functional MRI study on central control of storage: brain response provoked by strong desire to void. Int Urol Nephrol 47, 927–935 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-015-0978-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-015-0978-0

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