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The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

quantamagazine.org

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Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#21

Post by asdff »

mountainriver wrote: post #16
mmastrac wrote: post #8

It'll be interesting to see if this validates the bizarre claims of the Wim Hof method. I'm skeptical, but the evidence _seems_ to suggest a lot of conscious control over some autonomic functions.

Win Hof has actually had legitimate studies done where he has proven he can activate his immune system with his mind

The wikipedia article on wim hof where they quoted the study seems a lot more believable:

" . . . forceful respiration results in increased sympathetic innervation and glucose consumption in intercostal muscle, generating heat that dissipates to lung tissue and warms circulating blood in the pulmonary capillaries. Our results provide compelling evidence for the primacy of the brain (CNS) rather than the body (peripheral mechanisms) in mediating the Iceman's [Wim Hof's] responses to cold exposure.[28]"

By hyperventillating you are just flexing your intercostal muscle and that's warming your body. If you sat there flexing your quads or your core over and over you would probably get a similar sensation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Hof

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#22

Post by mementomorti »

mountainriver wrote: post #16
mmastrac wrote: post #8

It'll be interesting to see if this validates the bizarre claims of the Wim Hof method. I'm skeptical, but the evidence _seems_ to suggest a lot of conscious control over some autonomic functions.

Win Hof has actually had legitimate studies done where he has proven he can activate his immune system with his mind

I think its worth nothing that the Wim Hof method also includes both cold exposure and breath holds, both of which I believe are physiologically linked to the immune response.

Though the article does seem to suggest that focusing your thoughts in a particular way could be involved as well. Pretty cool!

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#23

Post by panabee »

User23 wrote: post #19
mountainriver wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Win Hof has actually had legitimate studies done where he has proven he can activate his immune system with his mind

Given the brain’s regulatory role in virtually every aspect of homeostasis, I’m surprised that folks are surprised that by mental exercises autonomous functions can be influenced if not controlled. Wim Hof is interesting, but any Hindu can tell you that yogis have been performing similar feats for millennia.

this is a great point re the brain's regulatory role. thanks for sharing.

can you recommend terms to google to learn more about what mental exercises yogis do and can achieve immunologically?

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#24

Post by crehn »

panabee wrote: post #3
DoreenMichele wrote: post #2

At first glance, it seems to support the idea that biofeedback can be effective, at least to some degree and for some things.

yes and perhaps some placebo effects activate stored immunological responses.

Placebo is such an interesting phenomenon. I had a certain physical pain difficult to describe that I could’ve sworn to have felt, but after addressing my perspective I’ve no longer had any such symptoms. Not sure if related, but I still don’t understand it.

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#25

Post by thevagrant »

asdff wrote: post #21
mountainriver wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Win Hof has actually had legitimate studies done where he has proven he can activate his immune system with his mind

The wikipedia article on wim hof where they quoted the study seems a lot more believable: " . . . forceful respiration results in increased sympathetic innervation and glucose consumption in intercostal muscle, generating heat that dissipates to lung tissue and warms circulating blood in the pulmonary capillaries. Our results provide compelling evidence for the primacy of the brain (CNS) rather than the body (periphe…

That's in response to cold. He has also been tested for effects on immune response:

"It was shown that this individual was able to voluntarily activate the sympathetic nervous system through a self-developed method involving meditation, exposure to cold, and breathing techniques. This resulted in increased catecholamine and cortisol release and a remarkably mild innate immune response during experimental endotoxemia compared with more than 100 subjects who previously underwent experimental endotoxemia."

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4034215/

Perhaps it is bunk science? I'm not qualified to say. I personally did find the methods have been helpful.

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#26

Post by tdrdt »

mmastrac wrote: post #8

It'll be interesting to see if this validates the bizarre claims of the Wim Hof method. I'm skeptical, but the evidence _seems_ to suggest a lot of conscious control over some autonomic functions.

Pierre Capel explains this in this video: https://youtu.be/hJ7zbsRM0-c

When you breath like Wim Hof CO2 levels in your blood change and this will have an effect on your pain response. CO2 lowers and the pH raises.

Re: The brain can recall and reawaken past immune responses

#29

Post by vixen99 »

pfortuny wrote: post #28

Mice, people, do not get too carried away…

Fair enough. We should be cautious but meanwhile almost every gene found in mice so far has been found in a closely related form in humans. Of the approximately 4,000 genes that have been studied, less than 10 are found in humans but not in mice.
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