Does putting a sleeping persons hand in warm water really make them pee?

Carolyn · « **on:** 14/12/2008 08:21:45 »

....and if so, why?

JnA · « **Reply #1 on:** 14/12/2008 10:50:11 »

Short answer no with a but..

long answer yes with an if...

'experts' don't agree that this occurs.. but it probably has to do with the stage of sleep the person is in and/or how 'suggestible' they are. Some people associate water pictures / sounds / suggestions with urinating.

Bored chemist · « **Reply #2 on:** 14/12/2008 13:20:00 »

If it was reliably true then every dormitory, be it school, army or whatever, in the world would have at least one unfortunate victim of this prank. It would be so well known that there wouldn't be any question of it.
It might happen to some small group of the population, but it must be quite rare.

Don_1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 14/12/2008 13:48:03 »

Shall I experiment on the Mrs tonight?

No, perhaps not, don't want a wet bed!!!

JnA · « **Reply #4 on:** 14/12/2008 22:56:19 »

Quote from: Bored chemist on 14/12/2008 13:20:00

If it was reliably true then every dormitory, be it school, army or whatever, in the world would have at least one unfortunate victim of this prank.

I thought they did!

Bored chemist · « **Reply #5 on:** 15/12/2008 19:00:18 »

Can you verify that hypothesis?

JnA · « **Reply #6 on:** 16/12/2008 00:01:40 »

Quote from: Bored chemist on 15/12/2008 19:00:18

Can you verify that hypothesis?

heresay mostly.

Maybe we should do a mass forum experiment.. surely we all have partners, children or animals to experiment on...

Bored chemist · « **Reply #7 on:** 16/12/2008 19:16:01 »

Well, since I live alone, all I can do is point out that it's a simple experiment and I think all those of you who can should join in. I gather that incontinence pants are not that expensive so all you need is an understanding family member with a deep apreciation of the value of science.

Seriously, I can't imagine that any medical student gets through their training without being severely tempted to test this idea. Now, since there are a few doctors who regulalry post here, who gave in to temptation and tried this?

turnipsock · « **Reply #8 on:** 17/12/2008 00:44:07 »

I thought it was supposed to be cold water.

JnA · « **Reply #9 on:** 17/12/2008 05:15:26 »

I have the perfect set of subjects for this experiment. But there are obstacles.. *shakes fist at ethics committees*

Bored chemist · « **Reply #10 on:** 17/12/2008 06:57:54 »

http://www.lab-initio.com/screen_res/nz015.jpg
Surely it's just a matter of getting informed consent?

JnA · « **Reply #11 on:** 18/12/2008 02:13:21 »

A set of babies as 'controls' would be good too.

Bored chemist · « **Reply #12 on:** 18/12/2008 18:56:38 »

Ignoring the ethics of experimenting on babies, surely a set of results that said "Babies with hand in water - all found to have wet nappies vs babies with dry hands also all found to have wet nappies too" doesn't really tell you much?
I think the original myth/story is about people old enough to not normally wet the bed. Looks like we still need some volunteers.
(and is it my imagination or is this a rather odd thread?)

Carolyn · « **Reply #13 on:** 19/12/2008 03:29:14 »

Quote from: Bored chemist on 18/12/2008 18:56:38

Ignoring the ethics of experimenting on babies, surely a set of results that said "Babies with hand in water - all found to have wet nappies vs babies with dry hands also all found to have wet nappies too" doesn't really tell you much?
I think the original myth/story is about people old enough to not normally wet the bed. Looks like we still need some volunteers.
(and is it my imagination or is this a rather odd thread?)

LOL...yes, it is an odd thread, but sometimes I think of odd things. Actually, I was watching an episode of "House", where he (House) put Wilson's hand in a bowl of water, it never showed if it worked or not. It got me wondering about the science behind it and if it would work on my brother who is horrible and evil and needs to be paid back for numerous hateful pranks!

Don_1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 19/12/2008 07:36:49 »

It occurs to me that there could be some historical connection to this phenomena. We also say that the sound of running water can make you want to pee. Perhaps the two are inducements (immersion in water and hearing water) come from our distant past.

I am basing this on the fact that my two tortoises will urinate when they are given a bath. The reason for this is that, in their native habitat, water can be scarce, therefore, a tortoise will hold on to its urine for the purpose of body hydration until it can hold it's urine no longer, or until it finds a source of water. Once the tortoise has entered the body of water and satisfied itself that it can drink the water, it knows it can safely urinate and then be able to replace the lost water with a fresh supply.

Now, of course, we are not reptiles (although there are certain individuals who display the odd reptilian characteristic or two), but could it be that early man would act in much the same way as my tortoises? If so, perhaps this urge to pee when hearing, contacting or seeing water is a throwback from our ancestors.

Bored chemist · « **Reply #15 on:** 19/12/2008 18:10:30 »

Quote from: Carolyn on 19/12/2008 03:29:14

Quote from: Bored chemist on 18/12/2008 18:56:38
Ignoring the ethics of experimenting on babies, surely a set of results that said "Babies with hand in water - all found to have wet nappies vs babies with dry hands also all found to have wet nappies too" doesn't really tell you much?
I think the original myth/story is about people old enough to not normally wet the bed. Looks like we still need some volunteers.
(and is it my imagination or is this a rather odd thread?)

LOL...yes, it is an odd thread, but sometimes I think of odd things. Actually, I was watching an episode of "House", where he (House) put Wilson's hand in a bowl of water, it never showed if it worked or not. It got me wondering about the science behind it and if it would work on my brother who is horrible and evil and needs to be paid back for numerous hateful pranks!

Tell our brother that if he tries any more tricks you will consider him to have volunteered to take part in the experiment.

harryneopotter · « **Reply #16 on:** 06/11/2012 10:07:47 »

Quote from: Carolyn on 19/12/2008 03:29:14

LOL...yes, it is an odd thread, but sometimes I think of odd things. Actually, I was watching an episode of "House", where he (House) put Wilson's hand in a bowl of water, it never showed if it worked or not. It got me wondering about the science behind it and if it would work on my brother who is horrible and evil and needs to be paid back for numerous hateful pranks!

i was watching the same episode ..and was wondering the same thing. Googled for it, and this page was the first result. awesome, right ?

BTW, at the end of the episode, the did show that the prank worked

Boogie · « **Reply #17 on:** 08/11/2012 02:16:12 »

Quote from: Carolyn on 19/12/2008 03:29:14

Quote from: Bored chemist on 18/12/2008 18:56:38
Ignoring the ethics of experimenting on babies, surely a set of results that said "Babies with hand in water - all found to have wet nappies vs babies with dry hands also all found to have wet nappies too" doesn't really tell you much?
I think the original myth/story is about people old enough to not normally wet the bed. Looks like we still need some volunteers.
(and is it my imagination or is this a rather odd thread?)

LOL...yes, it is an odd thread, but sometimes I think of odd things. Actually, I was watching an episode of "House", where he (House) put Wilson's hand in a bowl of water, it never showed if it worked or not. It got me wondering about the science behind it and if it would work on my brother who is horrible and evil and needs to be paid back for numerous hateful pranks!

I hope you report the results of your experiment!

Bored chemist · « **Reply #18 on:** 08/11/2012 12:51:04 »

After all this time, nobody seems to have done the experiment.

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Does putting a sleeping persons hand in warm water really make them pee?

Carolyn (OP)

Carolyn (OP)

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