Changing topic here, this was in today's Wall Street Journal.
THE DAILY SCAN
By MARK INGEBRETSEN
Study Shows Negative Thoughts Are Tied to Immune Response
Negative emotions can take their toll on the body's immune system, the New York Times reported. Describing an experiment by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, the Times said: "During a task that required experiencing negative emotions, greater electrical activity in the brain's right prefrontal cortex predicted a weaker immune response six months later, as measured by the subjects' level of antibodies to the flu shot."
The finding adds to the growing body of evidence that health and emotional well-being may be closely intertwined.
Last month, for example, a widely publicized study revealed that "Cancer patients with symptoms of depression are more likely to have their lives cut short than cancer patients who are free of such symptoms," according to HealthDay news.
However, the University of Wisconsin experiment contained some fresh revelations. "Many previous studies have shown that emotions and stress can adversely affect the immune system. But this effect had not been directly correlated with activity in the brain," the director of the research effort said in the New Scientist.
Those who prefer to focus on the bright side of the results will be happy to hear that "Positive thinking or at least thinking of positive events on one's life can impact how effective an influenza shot works," according to United Press International.
In other news, Slate Magazine complains that the New York Times is stealing all its writers. That doesn't say much for the NYT, but then, neither did the Blair fiasco.