title: Hemispheric lateralisation and immune function: a systematic review of human research.
abstract: Past studies examined relationships between hemispheric lateralisation (HL) and immune system functioning. However, there has been no up-dated systematic review of this research area. This article reviews relevant published studies, evaluates study quality and effect sizes. Eleven studies were selected: three revealing a relationship between weaker left hemisphere function and poorer immune function, three describing a relationship between weaker right hemisphere function and stronger immune functioning, and five describing both relationships. Mean effect-size of the studies was r=0.536 (range 0.280-0.866). Collectively, studies point at left-HL and stronger immunity relationships. Limitations, mechanisms and clinical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences & Social Care, Brunel University, West London, UK. Rachel.c.sumner@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Rachel C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sumner
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parton
authors.forename: Alexander V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Nowicky
authors.forename: Uday
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kishore
authors.forename: Yori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gidron
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000276:immunology*