ABSTRACT
In twenty-two studies of intentional effects of humans to change immune measures, only four monitored psychophysiologic parameters. One study reported physiologic alterations associated with immune changes. In this current study we examined changes in pulse rate and peripheral temperature associated with intentional changes in neutrophil adherence. Subjects had blood, pulse and temperature recordings collected before and after either a rest condition (Group A), or a self-regulation exercise (Groups B and C) for two sessions. Group C had four prior training sessions before participating in the experimental sessions. This study found no association between psychophysiologic alterations and neutrophil changes. The control group (A) demonstrated no significant neutrophil changes but showed physiologic alterations, whereas, the experimental group (C) that showed increases in neutrophil adherence demonstrated no significant physiologic changes. It was speculated that intentional changes on neutrophil adherence and the pattern of the psychophysiologic measures were associated with and reflective of cognitive activity.
Subject(s)
Neuroimmunomodulation , Adolescent/physiology , Adult , Blood/immunology , Female , Heart Rate , Humans , Imagination , Immunoglobulin A/immunology , Male , Neutrophils/immunology , Relaxation Therapy , Saliva/immunology , TemperatureABSTRACT
In a study of voluntary immunomodulation, 45 subjects were assigned either to a control group or one of two experimental groups. All groups had blood and saliva samples collected before and after either a 30 minute rest condition (Control group) or a 30 minute cyberphysiologic strategy (Experimental groups) to increase neutrophil adherence. These samples were analyzed on a range of immunologic measurements including neutrophil adherence. The second experimental group practiced a cyberphysiologic strategy two weeks prior to the experimental session. Subjects in each group returned to repeat their exercise in a second session the following week. Analysis of all immune measurements revealed statistical significance for changes in neutrophil adherence. These studies suggest that such strategies may be used to effect changes in immune cell functions. Analysis further revealed that those subjects with prior cyberphysiologic training were able, by the second session, to induce a significant increase in neutrophil adherence.
Subject(s)
Imagination/physiology , Neuroimmunomodulation , Neutrophils/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Immune Adherence Reaction , Immunoglobulin A/analysis , Immunoglobulin A/immunology , Leukocyte Count , Male , Saliva/immunologyABSTRACT
In a study of the cyberphysiology (self-regulation) of auditory response, the effects of imagery and suggestion on auditory thresholds were examined in naive subjects (Ss). After a hypnosis-like induction, the Ss, who were not aware of the purpose of the study, were asked to generate and maintain a specific set of images before, during, and after which their auditory thresholds were tested. The Ss were not informed of the purpose of the imagery or audiograms. Following the imagery, which represented cooling and vasoconstriction in the cochlea, audiograms revealed a temporary auditory threshold shift (TTS) in the experimental group only. This TTS response pattern was similar to that produced by exposure to loud noise. Information carried in the image is suggested as the basis for the observed auditory changes. Although a hypnosis-like induction was employed, the Ss' level of hypnotizability did not appear to be related to the findings.
