Absorption and imagery locate immune responses in the body

Imagery instructions specifying mucosal immunity should alter mucosal immunoglobulin A (m-IgA) levels in high absorbers, whose intent concentration evokes intense physiological responses. After screening for health status, 121 high or low absorbers were randomly assigned to either Relaxation Alone (R), Relaxation with Mucosal Immune Imagery (RI), or Vigilance Task control (VT). Before and after one 60-min intervention, subjects reported theory-relevant psychological variables and provided 5ml whole saliva, which was immediately frozen and assayed lateren masse with enzyme-linked immunoabsorbence (ELISA). MANOVA analysis of psychological variables replicated past research. ANOVA on residualized m-IgA found Time × Absorption interaction and Condition main effects. High more than low absorbers responded to relaxation with mucosal immune imagery by producing higher m-IgA. High absorbers appear able to locate where their immune systems will respond. Individual differences like absorption level need to be emphasized in diagnosis and treatment responsiveness.National Institutes of HealthM. Banks (Jasnoski) Gregerson, Department of Psychology, The George Washington University, changed to The Family Therapy Institute; Ingram M. Roberts, The George Washington University Medical Center, changed to Department of Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital; and Michael M. Amiri, The George Washington University Medical Center, changed to the Department of Neuroscience, NINDS Branch, National Institutes of Health. This research supported by an intra-mural BioMedical Research Grant from The George Washington University, was presented at the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, Massachusetts. Special thanks are extended to the following students who assisted instrumentally at various stages: undergraduates Lina Alathari, S. Theodor King, Beth Lieberman, Parisa Lotfi, Anita McClenon, and Karen Siscoe, and graduate student Mariken Hasert.