title: Positive emotional states and enhancement of the immune system.
abstract: Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration increased significantly after subjects viewed a humorous videotape and did not change significantly after they viewed a didactic videotape. Scores on a questionnaire measuring the perceived use of humor as a coping skill were positively related to initial IgA concentration and inversely related to changes in IgA concentration after subjects' viewing of the humorous videotape, which implies a ceiling effect. Enhancement of the immune system may be one link between anecdotal claims of relationships between an individual's being in a positive emotional state and healing.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D014743:Videotape Recording; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A