Psychoneuroimmunology
Mats Lekander’s research group explores how the immune system communicates with the brain and how this interaction shapes behaviour, perception of health, and social functioning by studying the sickness response. By experimentally activating the immune system in humans or studying naturally occurring inflammation in conditions such as seasonal allergy, the group investigates how inflammation influences brain function, pain sensitivity, fatigue, and interpersonal behaviour, as well as how psychological processes in turn modulate immune-related symptoms.
The work is carried out in close collaboration between Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, and also forms a foundation for clinical intervention research, including cognitive behavioural therapy for stress disorders or fatigue. Mats Lekander is director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Karolinska Institutet.
Read more about the Osher center
Research Projects – Examples
- Experimental immune activation in humans
Short-term inflammatory responses (sickness behaviours) are induced using a safe bacterial compound. Researchers then study changes in brain function, subjective health, pain sensitivity, and social behaviour. Contextual or other factors that modulate the response to inflammatory activation are studied. - Inflammation in naturalistic conditions
Studies on individuals with seasonal allergy or other inflammatory disorder examine how longer-term naturalistic immune activation affects well-being and cognitive and emotional processes. - Intervention studies
Psychological treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for stress-related disorders and chronic fatigue, are evaluated in collaboration with primary care.
