Long-term effects of vaccination on attentional performance.
To investigate the possible influence of stimulation of the immune system on cognitive tasks, healthy volunteers were vaccinated against hepatitis B and tested over a 6 month-period in a simple reaction times and the Stroop task. In general, the "Stroop effect" demonstrates that both the name and meaning of a word are automatically processed even when voluntary attention is trying hard not to process them. Unlike placebo group, vaccinated subjects showed a persistent lack of the classical Stroop effect. These findings may be explained by a constraint satisfaction model of the Stroop task, assuming a selective weakening of the connection matrix, and suggest that immune-cognitive effects may occur, besides the well known immune-cognitive influences like those elicited by emotional stress.
Nicoletti
Roberto
R
Department of Communication, University of Bologna, 40122 Bologna, Italy. nicoletti@dsc.unibo.it
Porro
Carlo Adolfo
CA
Brighetti
Gianni
G
Monti
Daniela
D
Pagnoni
Giuseppe
G
Guido
Marcello
M
Rubichi
Sandro
S
Franceschi
Claudio
C
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination
D016207:Cytokines; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines