A research group led by Professor Shin Fukudo, Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Sato and Professor Kunihiko Nakai at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has elucidated characteristics of the brainstem function of children with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. This group has been pursuing causes for irritable bowel syndrome, which is especially drawing attention. The group has investigated the auditory brainstem response of 141 children aged seven. They were determined whether they have gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomachache, constipation or diarrhea or not. As a result, it has been revealed that the waveforms of children with gastrointestinal symptoms that reflect signal processing in the brainstem had a shorter latency than those of children without gastrointestinal symptoms. The research results have published in PLoS One. The paper's title is "Enhanced Auditory Brainstem Response and Parental Bonding Style in Children with Gastrointestinal Symptoms".

More information (Japanese)

[Contact]

Professor Shin Fukudo

Department of Behavioral Medicine

Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

TEL: +81-22-717-8214

E-mail: sfukudo*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)

[Public Relations]

Associate Professor Fuji Nagami

Public Relations Office of Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine

Tel: +81-22-717-7908 Fax: +81-22-717-7923

E-mail: f-nagami*med.tohoku.ac.jp (Replace * with @)