Which brain circuits control the bladder?
This review maps bladder-control regions/networks and notes only six micturition-phase imaging studies, with LPFC/pons most often activated while voiding.
Source
Functional brain imaging and central control of the bladder in health and disease
Study at a glance
- Design
- Other — Narrative review of functional imaging and brain-network models of bladder control
- N
- N=6 · Highlights six prior micturition-phase imaging studies (vs more storage-phase work)
- Population
- Healthy subjects and patients with bladder-control disorders in reviewed imaging studies
- Outcome
- Synthesis of regions/networks for storage vs micturition and disease-related FC changes
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
What they did
Reviewed functional imaging/FC literature (and authors’ findings) across storage/micturition and disorders such as OAB and IC/BPS.
What they found
Many regions from pons/PAG to prefrontal/insula participate via networks; LPFC active in storage and voiding, MPFC flips, pons mainly in micturition; extends Griffiths network model.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Review synthesis is not a new single-cohort experiment proving one causal circuit.
Key terms
- Micturition
- Voiding phase of bladder control.
- Periaqueductal grey (PAG)
- Midbrain hub in continence/voiding circuits.
- LPFC / MPFC
- Lateral vs medial prefrontal cortex with phase-specific patterns.
- Salience / default mode networks
- Large-scale networks implicated in bladder FC studies.
- Overactive bladder (OAB)
- Urgency/frequency syndrome discussed in disease sections.
- Functional connectivity (FC)
- Correlated activity among bladder-control regions.
Flashcards
Research intelligence for this paper
See its role on concept claims, tensions it is part of, placement history, and related discoveries.
Quiz yourself
Prior micturition-phase imaging studies:
Common questions
Micturition-phase studies counted?
Only six prior studies.
Most frequent micturition activations?
LPFC/inferior frontal gyrus and pons (five times).
Pons timing?
Activated only during micturition.
Model extended?
Griffiths et al. working model at network level.
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