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Immunological and physiological changes associated with induced positive and negative mood

A D Futterman1, M E Kemeny, D Shapiro

  • 1Department of Psychology, UCLA.

Psychosomatic Medicine
|November 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Positive and negative moods impact immune function, affecting natural killer cells and T cells. However, only the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin differed between positive and negative mood states.

Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Immunology
  • Affective Science

Background:

  • Mood states can influence physiological processes.
  • Understanding the impact of emotions on the immune system is crucial for health.
  • Previous research suggests a link between psychological states and immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of induced positive, negative, and neutral mood states on immunological parameters.
  • To determine if mood valence and arousal level differentially affect immune function.
  • To identify specific immune variables sensitive to mood induction.

Main Methods:

  • 14 male actors participated in the study.
  • Mood states (positive, negative, neutral) were induced on separate days.
  • Functional and phenotypic immunological parameters were measured before, during, and after mood induction.

Main Results:

  • All induced mood states, regardless of valence or arousal, altered several immune parameters, including natural killer cell activity and suppressor/cytotoxic T cell percentages.
  • The proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin was uniquely affected by mood valence, increasing with positive moods and decreasing with negative moods.
  • Heart rate, physical activity, and cortisol levels were identified as factors influencing mood effects on most immune parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Mood states significantly impact immune function, affecting key cellular components.
  • The immune system's response to mitogens like phytohemagglutinin is sensitive to the valence of induced moods.
  • Physiological factors play a role in mediating the relationship between mood and immune system changes.

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