Psychology 2036A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Pap Test, University Of Western Ontario, Rheumatoid Arthritis
Document Summary
Immunocompetence- the extent to which an immune system is functioning properly to ward off micro-organisms. Glaser and colleagues- found signi cant declines in immunocompetence ( rst measured one month before exams, then on their last day of that exam period) Psychoneuroimmunology- the study of the relationship between psychological states and the functioning of the immune system. Our psychology (psycho) affects nervous-system functioning (neuro), which in turn affects our immunity to disease (immunology). How immune-system function is measured in psychoneuroimmunological research. Immune system functioning is dependent on the systems ability to produce, or proliferate, cells to do its work. One simple way of measuring immunocompetence is to count these cells (typically white blood cells) as they exist in the bloodstream. This cell counting is called an enumerative assay and is common in pni research. Enumerative assay- a lab test done to count cells (typically white blood cells) as they exist in the bloodstream.