Incontinence is a very common and often devastating problem, but one that goes largely unacknowledged. In order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this major clinical condition, this symposium brought together neuroscientists working on the basic biology of the bladder and bowel and clinicians dealing with the various manifestations of urinary and fecal incontinence. The resulting coverage is broad and includes papers on the innervation and functional anatomy of the urinary tract and anorectal region, and the central neural control of these areas. Other contributions discuss the functional assessment of the anorectum and bladder, stress incontinence and the neurogenic hypothesis of incontinence, detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia, and pharmacological and surgical approaches to treatment.