| Time
| 1994-1995 |
| Title
| Immunity studies show how immune system signals cause sickness behavior |
| Event
| For years, scientists believed that the brain couldn’t talk to the immune system (or vice versa). They believed immune molecules were too big to pass through the brain, because of the brain’s tight security system known as the blood-brain barrier.
It has long been known that sick people often acted similarly, turning inward and sleeping a lot. Scientists Robert Dantzer and Linda Watkins and Steven Maier theorized that the immune system might be triggering these responses.
These observations led to the discovery that the immune system can signal the brain through the Vagus nerve. In turn, these signals cause specific “sickness” behaviors |
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The mind and body and inextricably linked in this research. (See "body" for more).
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Sick people display distinct behaviors and mindsets. Many turn inward by avoiding social interactions, isolating themselves, oversleeping, and undereating. Watkins and Maier show that these symptoms occur because immune molecules released during illness signal the brain by activating the Vagus nerve.
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Spirituality is not specifically addressed in this research.
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