Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Relaxation, imagery, and neuroimmunomodulation.

M L Jasnoski, J Kugler

    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
    |January 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary

    Relaxation techniques, including progressive muscle relaxation and focused breathing, significantly boost salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA), a key immune marker. Mental imagery combined with relaxation further enhanced these immune responses.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Pop-up Langmuir probe diagnostic in the water cooled divertor of Wendelstein 7-X.

    The Review of scientific instruments·2024
    Same author

    A prospective whole-mixture approach to assess risk of the food and chemical exposome.

    Nature food·2023
    Same author

    Are German family practitioners and psychiatrists sufficiently trained to diagnose and treat patients with alcohol problems?

    BMC family practice·2019
    Same author

    [Patient satisfaction in ambulatory cataract surgery : Differences between outpatients in a special surgery or in a hospital].

    Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·2017
    Same author

    Factors influencing sleep quality among nursing staff: Results of a cross sectional study.

    Applied nursing research : ANR·2016
    Same author

    [Factors Influencing Lead Time in Multiple Sclerosis: Survey of Members of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society in Saxony-Anhalt].

    Fortschritte der Neurologie-Psychiatrie·2016

    Area of Science:

    • Psychoneuroimmunology
    • Behavioral Medicine

    Background:

    • The interplay between psychological states and immune function is complex.
    • Stress can negatively impact immune markers like salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA).
    • Mind-body interventions are increasingly explored for their potential to modulate immune responses.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of relaxation and mental imagery on immune and neuroendocrine variables.
    • To compare the efficacy of relaxation alone versus relaxation with immune-focused imagery.
    • To examine the relationship between immune markers, stress, and neuroendocrine responses.

    Main Methods:

    • Thirty undergraduates with high absorption ability were randomized into three groups: relaxation alone, relaxation with mental imagery, or a vigilance control task.
    • Interventions lasted approximately 1 hour.
    • Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cortisol, catecholamines, mood states, and power motivation were measured before and after the protocols.

    Main Results:

    • Both relaxation alone and relaxation with imagery groups showed significantly higher SIgA levels compared to the control group.
    • The immune-boosting effect of relaxation was amplified when controlling for plasma cortisol.
    • SIgA levels were negatively correlated with saliva norepinephrine, suggesting a link between stress hormones and immune function.

    Conclusions:

    • Relaxation techniques, with or without mental imagery, can enhance salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels.
    • Psychological interventions show promise in positively influencing immune markers.
    • Further research is needed to elucidate the complex neuroendocrine pathways involved in these mind-body effects.

    Related Experiment Videos