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Research: BERK and colleagues, C
Listed in Issue 66
Abstract
BERK and colleagues, Center for Neuroimmunology, School of Medicine, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA investigated the efficacy of mirthful laughter to modulate human neuroimmune parameters.
Background
Humour therapy and the related mirthful laughter have been suggested to have preventative and healing effects. The effects may be mediated by neuroendocrine/neuroimmune modulation ; however, specific neuroimmune parameters have not been fully investigated.
Methodology
The investigators conducted a series of 5 separate studies based on a multivariate repeated measures design, with post-hoc simple contrast analysis. 52 healthy men viewed a humour video for 1 hour. Blood samples were taken 10 minutes before, 30 minutes into, and 30 minutes and 12 hours after the video viewing, and analyzed for natural killer (NK) cell activity; plasma immunoglobulins (Igs); functional phenotypic markers for leukocytes including activated T cells, nonactivated T cells, B cells, NK cells, T cells with helper and suppressor markers, and assessment of plasma volume and compartmental shifts; the plasma cytokine interferon-gamma ; and total leukocytes with subpopulations of lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes.
Results
Increases were found in NK cell activity (p<0.01); IgG (p<0.02), IgA (p<0.01) and IgM (p<0.09), with several such effects lasting 12 hours; functional phenotypic markers for leukocyte subsets (activated T cells, p<0.01; active cytotoxic T cells, p<0.01; NK cells, p=0.09; B cells, p<0.01; helper T cells, p<0.02; uncommitted T cells with helper and suppressor markers, p<0.02; helper/suppressor ratio, p=0.10), with several leukocyte subset increase effects lasting 12 hours; the cytokine interferon-gamma (p=0.02), with increases lasting 12 hours; total leukocytes, with specific subpopulation lymphocytes during the intervention (p<0.01) and 90 minutes into recovery (p<0.05); and granulocytes during the intervention (p<0.05) and 90 minutes following the intervention (p<0.01).
Conclusion
Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during and following the humour-associated eustress of laughter may benefit wellness and provide a complementary adjunct to whole-person integrative medicine therapies.
References
Berk LS et al. Modulation of neuroimmune parameters during eustress of humor-associated mirthful laughter. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 7 (2): 62-72. Mar 2001.
Comment
The immune indices above, enhanced significantly, add to the growing body of 'hard' evidence regarding how mood and emotional expression may dramatically influence our health.
