Mind/Body HealthRRCC Holistic Health

Spring 2011

Psychoneuroimmunology“The study of the intricate interaction of

consciousness (psycho), brain and central nervous system (neuro), and the body’s defense against external invasion and internal aberrant cell division (immunology)”

Immune function can be classically conditioned

Just about every illness is influenced by how we think and feel- at least, if not caused by itPsychological factors can modulate the stress

response and trigger it

AnatomyCNS linked to bone marrow, thymus, spleen,

lymph nodes- immune tissues laced with nerve fibers

Changes in the brain and spinal cord affect immune response, and vice versa

WBC’s respond to neurochemicals and produce them

Emotions trigger hormone releaseEpi, norepi, endorphins, GC’s, prolactin, growth

hormoneActive immune cells send signals to CNS

Candace Pert Receptors on the cell surface to pick up signals

Signal brought into cell Cell division, growth, migration, metabolism, etc.

Ligands- the signal- cell to cell communication Hormones, neurotransmitters, peptides 98% of data transfer in the body and brain

2% at synapses Present in many species- evolutionarily conserved

Opiate receptors in all vertebrates, also insects, other invertebrates

Molecules of emotion Present throughout body and brain

Including the limbic system- the emotional brain (p. 134) Including physical functions

Sensations (pleasure, pain), drive states (hunger, thirst) Facial expressions for anger, fear, sadness, enjoyment, and disgust

common across cultures

Molecules of EmotionVibratory attraction- receptor and ligand vibrate

Entrainment and resonanceEmotion is this vibrationThe peptide-receptor connection is the physical

manifestation of the feelingReceptor complexes form ion channels

Electric current- ionic flux- affects neuronal circuitryEmotions change the physical body

Stress and health“Bright, colorful clouds of vibrating, singing energy

surrounding each cell… a chorus of resonating voices soaring in the background”

The body as the subconscious mindBiography- memories, traumas, etc.

Psychosomatic Network Brain one of many nodal points

Neuropeptide receptors concentrated in dorsal horn and other ganglia

Locations where information from the five senses enters Accessed and modulated by neuropeptides

Emotions and bodily sensations intertwined- bidirectional Can be unconscious or conscious

Dynamic communication network linking all systems The brain filters, stores, and makes associations Emotions involved in memory, learning- state-dependent recall

Body and mind not separate What happens in one happens in the other Neurons in brain replaced throughout life

Emotional experience molds brain architecture Neurons made in bone marrow- our bones make our brains

Emotions shape our experience of reality “Every change in the physiological state is accompanied by an

appropriate change in the mental emotional state, conscious or unconscious, and conversely, every change in the mental emotional state, conscious or unconscious, is accompanied by an appropriate change in the physiological state.”

“Neuropeptides bring us to states of consciousness and to alterations in those states”

The bodymind as an integrated web