NOCTURNAL TASK RESPONSIVENESS OF PRIMARY NOCTURNAL ENURETIC BOYS - A BEHAVIORAL-APPROACH TO ENURESIS

Etiological theories of primary nocturnal enuresis have long been inco nclusive as to the role of deep sleeping as a causal factor. Anecdotal theories and parental perceptions identify deep sleeping and the inab ility to easily awaken as culprits. Electroencephalography studies hav e failed to find differences between enuretic and nonenuretic groups o n electrographically defined parameters of sleep; this study focuses o n a behavioral definition: nocturnal task responsiveness. It is shown that enuretic and nonenuretic participants differ in the amount of sti mulus needed to produce a behavioral response from sleep. In other wor ds, enuretic participants are harder to awaken than are nonenuretic pa rticipants. Implications and directions for future research are discus sed.