Introduction To Psychoneuroimmunology

Health is maintained by the coordinated operation of all the biological systems that make up the individual. The Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology, Second Edition, presents an overview of what has been discovered by scientists regarding how bodily systems respond to environmental challenges and intercommunicate to sustain health. The book touches on the main findings from the current literature without being overly technical and complex. The result is a comprehensive overview of psychoneuroimmunology, which avoids oversimplification, but does not overwhelm the reader. Single authored for consistency of breadth and depth, with no redundancy of coverage between chapters Covers endocrine-immune modulation, neuro-immune modulation, and the enhancing or inhibiting processes of one or more systems on the others Expanded use of figures, tables, and text boxes

Psychoneuroimmunology investigates the relationships between behavior, psychosocial factors, the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, and disease. Each system affects the others, enhancing and/or inhibiting processes elsewhere in the body. Research in this field has grown tremendously in recent years as science better understands the checks and balances of these interdisciplinary systems and processes. Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology provides the first introductory text for this complex field.Beginning with a discussion of immune system basics, Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology explores endocrine-immune modulation, neuro-immune modulation, the relationship between stress, contextual change, and disease, as well as infection, allergy, immune activity and psychopathology, and immune function enhancement. This text provides a sound introduction to the field and will serve as a valuable overview to what is otherwise a complex interdisciplinary subject at the junction of molecular biology, genetics, the neurosciences, immunology, cell biology, endocrinology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and the behavioral sciences. * Provides a wide coverage of topics* Presents a concise treatment of topics* Includes concluding comments after each chapter* Includes definitions of technical terms

Health is maintained by the coordinated operation of all the biological systems that make up the individual. "The Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology, 2e, "presents an overview of what has been discovered by scientists regarding how bodily systems respond to environmental challenges and intercommunicate to sustain health. The book touches on the main findings from the current literature without being overly technical and complex. The result is a comprehensive overview of psychoneuroimmunology, which avoids oversimplification, but does not overwhelm the reader. Single authored for consistency of breadth and depth, with no redundancy of coverage between chapters Covers endocrine-immune modulation, neuro-immune modulation, and the enhancing or inhibiting processes of one or more systems on the others Expanded use of figures, tables, and text boxes Online test bank for professors

Psychoneuroimmunology is the first textbook to examine the complex functional relationships between the nervous system, the neuroendocrine and the immune system. The international leaders in this field have been brought together to create this pioneering text; each contributing from their area of expertise. The result is a comprehensive yet accessible interdisciplinary introduction to psychoneuroimmunology which also takes you further than the foundations of those fascinating topics by covering the most recent research in HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, and the reactivation of latent herpes viruses. Attention is also given to the effects of behavior such as physical exercise, sleep, acute and chronic stress, and conditioning of immune functions in animals and humans. The whole is brought together with a wealth of cited research studies, and over 200 illustrations.

Fundamentals of Psychoneuroimmunology Cai Song University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Brian E. Leonard National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland The long-held concept that the nervous, endocrine and immune systems are separate entities has given way to a new understanding of human biology. Psychoneuroimmunology addresses the realisation that the neural, immune, and endocrine systems are inextricably linked and that the effects of each affect all-the systems work together as a complicated set of triggers and balances, an intertwining of the physiological and emotional states. Beginning with the fundamentals of immune and neuroendocrine function, Fundamentals of Psychoneuroimmunology explores the complexities of behavioural assessment, the basic types of immunity, the importance of immune cell redistribution in the response to challenges such as infection and stress, and the multifaceted roles of nerves, hormones and cytokines. This text provides a sound introduction to the field and also serves as a valuable reference to those more familiar with the subject. Fundamentals of Psychoneuroimmunology: * Is the first book to cover this rapidly growing speciality comprehensively * Provides a sound biological basis to the discipline * Covers topics from the biology of immune and neuroendocrine function to the future of psychoneuroimmunology This volume, by the author of the acclaimed Fundamentals of Psychopharmacology, will be an essential reference for psychiatrists, neurologists, neuroimmunologists, neuroendocrinologists and psychologists, and will, it is hoped, stimulate further exploration into this exciting area of research.

Mind-body interactions have been the subject of debate for many generations. However, it is only in recent years that these interactions have become the subject of rigorous scientific enquiry. Advances in our understanding of the stress process, the endocrine and immune systems and the methodologies used to investigate these phenomena have resulted in an explosion of research activity in the field known as Psychoneuroimmunology.

This comprehensive resource details the history, methodology and development of research into psychoneuroimmunology, balancing it with meticulous coverage of both the clinical aspects and practical applications of the subject. A much-needed reference including overviews of key advances in the field Discusses how psychoneuroimmunological research is conceived and executed Includes contributions from a wealth of experts in the field Forward by Robert Ader and Nicholas Cohen, founders of the discipline Authoritative and interdisciplinary in scope - integrating biological and behavioral science

Psychoneuroimmunology, Second Edition presents reports on the relationship between the nervous and immune systems. The book is divided into four sections. The first section details the role of neural structures and neurotransmitter signals in communication with the immune system. It documents the extensive neural connections with organs of the immune system; the dynamics of noradrenergic sympathetic innervation of spleen and thymus; and the evidence for immune signaling of the CNS. Part II elaborates the role of hormones in the modulation of immune functions; the basis for bidirectional communication between the neuroendocrine and immune systems; and the potential physiological implications of these neuroendocrine-immune system interactions. The third part addresses behavioral influences on immune response; the effects of conditioning, stress and social interactions in modulating immune responses; and the behavioral consequences of experimentally altered or genetically determined immunologic states. The final section presents the effects of psychosocial factors on immune responses and the potential impact of behavioral interventions in modulating immunity in healthy human subjects and in patients with AIDS. Neuroscientists, endocrinologists, and immunologists will find the book interesting.