PSYC 365 - CHAPTER 3, PSYC 365 - CHAPTER 4, PSYC 365 -
CHAPTER 1, PSYC 365 - CHAPTER 2 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Immunocompetence
- Extend to which an immune system is functioning properly to ward off microorganisms
Ex.
- Lower before tests
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
- Study of the relationship between psychological states and the functioning of the
immune system
- Interaction between nervous system, endocrine system and immune system
How can the word psychoneuroimmunology be explained?
- Psychology (psycho) affects nervous system functioning (neuro)
- Nervous system functioning affects our immunity to disease (immunology)
Why is PNI important to Health Psychology?
- Provides needed info that links psychology and health
- Provides data in a form that makes sense to people whose training is biomedical
- Creates bridge between social scientists and physicians
How is immune system functioning measured in PNI research?
,- Dependent variables of immunocompetence
- Independent variable of psychological state
Why is measuring the influence of psychological states on immunocompetence
complex?
- Immune-system cells are located throughout the body and measuring can be difficult
(usually assess cellular activity)
- Variety of forms cellular activity can take and a state could influence one immune
functioning and not the other
What is immune system functioning dependent on?
- Our system's ability to produce or proliferate cells to do its work
What are ways to measure immunocompetence?
1. Enumerative Assay
2. Functional Tests of Immunity
1. Enumerative Assay
- Count cells (usually white blood) as they exist in the bloodstream
What do researchers look for in enumerative assays?
- Minimum number of cells for adequate immune function
- Balance between various cell types
2. Functional Tests of Immunity
- Tests done to assess the immune system at work
A. In Vitro
B. In Vivo
A. In Vitro (2. Functional Tests of Immunity)
,- Functional tests on cells outside the body
B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity)
- Functional tests performed on cells inside the body
I. Herpesvirus
II. Injection of Small Dosages
How do in vitro functional tests occur?
- Blood sample that is combined with mitogen
Mitogen (In FTI)
- Substance that stimulates immune-cell activity as though the immune cell were acting
against an invading cell or antigen
Ex.
- A (Con A)
- Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)
- Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)
- Natural Killer (NK)
How is NK cells assessed after exposure?
- Proliferation > cell counts taken after introduction of tumour cells
- Effectiveness > measuring the destruction of tumour cells (NK Cell Cytotoxic Activity
Assay)
NK Cell Cytotoxic Activity Assay
- Measuring the destruction of the tumour cells (or other mitogens) by NK cells
NK Cell Lysis
- Lyse means to destroy
, I. Herpesvirus (B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity))
- When immune system is suppressed, more Ab (antibodies) are needed and
immunocompetence can be measured by counting Ab
II. Injection of Small Dosages (B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity))
- Introduce antigen (through nasal spray or injection) and measure Ab activity meant to
deal with intrusion
- Measure immune system activity through site of injection or count antigen-specific Ab
Methodological Issues in the Measurement of Immune-System Function
1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects
2. Statistical Significance vs Clinical Significance
1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects
A. Issues with Acute Stressors
B. Issues with Chronic Stressor
Acute Stressor
- A stressor that is immediate in its duration and proximity
A. Issue with Acute Stressor (1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects)
- May enhance immune function
B. Issues with Chronic Stressor (1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects)
- Many other variables may influence
2. Statistical Significance vs Clinical Significance
- Some studies may have either
Statistical Significance
- Results less than 1-in-20 occurred by chance
CHAPTER 1, PSYC 365 - CHAPTER 2 EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Immunocompetence
- Extend to which an immune system is functioning properly to ward off microorganisms
Ex.
- Lower before tests
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
- Study of the relationship between psychological states and the functioning of the
immune system
- Interaction between nervous system, endocrine system and immune system
How can the word psychoneuroimmunology be explained?
- Psychology (psycho) affects nervous system functioning (neuro)
- Nervous system functioning affects our immunity to disease (immunology)
Why is PNI important to Health Psychology?
- Provides needed info that links psychology and health
- Provides data in a form that makes sense to people whose training is biomedical
- Creates bridge between social scientists and physicians
How is immune system functioning measured in PNI research?
,- Dependent variables of immunocompetence
- Independent variable of psychological state
Why is measuring the influence of psychological states on immunocompetence
complex?
- Immune-system cells are located throughout the body and measuring can be difficult
(usually assess cellular activity)
- Variety of forms cellular activity can take and a state could influence one immune
functioning and not the other
What is immune system functioning dependent on?
- Our system's ability to produce or proliferate cells to do its work
What are ways to measure immunocompetence?
1. Enumerative Assay
2. Functional Tests of Immunity
1. Enumerative Assay
- Count cells (usually white blood) as they exist in the bloodstream
What do researchers look for in enumerative assays?
- Minimum number of cells for adequate immune function
- Balance between various cell types
2. Functional Tests of Immunity
- Tests done to assess the immune system at work
A. In Vitro
B. In Vivo
A. In Vitro (2. Functional Tests of Immunity)
,- Functional tests on cells outside the body
B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity)
- Functional tests performed on cells inside the body
I. Herpesvirus
II. Injection of Small Dosages
How do in vitro functional tests occur?
- Blood sample that is combined with mitogen
Mitogen (In FTI)
- Substance that stimulates immune-cell activity as though the immune cell were acting
against an invading cell or antigen
Ex.
- A (Con A)
- Phytohemagglutinin (PHA)
- Pokeweed mitogen (PWM)
- Natural Killer (NK)
How is NK cells assessed after exposure?
- Proliferation > cell counts taken after introduction of tumour cells
- Effectiveness > measuring the destruction of tumour cells (NK Cell Cytotoxic Activity
Assay)
NK Cell Cytotoxic Activity Assay
- Measuring the destruction of the tumour cells (or other mitogens) by NK cells
NK Cell Lysis
- Lyse means to destroy
, I. Herpesvirus (B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity))
- When immune system is suppressed, more Ab (antibodies) are needed and
immunocompetence can be measured by counting Ab
II. Injection of Small Dosages (B. In Vivo (2. Functional Tests of Immunity))
- Introduce antigen (through nasal spray or injection) and measure Ab activity meant to
deal with intrusion
- Measure immune system activity through site of injection or count antigen-specific Ab
Methodological Issues in the Measurement of Immune-System Function
1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects
2. Statistical Significance vs Clinical Significance
1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects
A. Issues with Acute Stressors
B. Issues with Chronic Stressor
Acute Stressor
- A stressor that is immediate in its duration and proximity
A. Issue with Acute Stressor (1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects)
- May enhance immune function
B. Issues with Chronic Stressor (1. Short Term vs Long-Term Effects)
- Many other variables may influence
2. Statistical Significance vs Clinical Significance
- Some studies may have either
Statistical Significance
- Results less than 1-in-20 occurred by chance
