Sociality and Sickness: Have Cytokines Evolved to Serve Social Functions Beyond Times of Pathogen Exposure?

Authors

Michael B. Hennessy, Wright State University - Main CampusFollow
Terrence Deak
Patricia A. Schiml, Wright State University - Main CampusFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-31-2013

Abstract

During pathogen exposure or some forms of stress, proinflammatory processes induce an array of motivated and behavioral adjustments termed “sickness behaviors”. Although withdrawal from social interactions is a commonly observed sickness behavior, the relation between social behavior and sickness is much more complex. Sickness can suppress or stimulate social behavior. Sickness can serve as a social cue. Stressors that are social in nature can induce sickness behaviors, and sickness behavior can be readily suppressed by meaningful social stimuli. The nature, context, and timing of these effects together suggest that cytokine-induced behavior may play a role in mediating social interactions in various non-pathological conditions.

Comments

This is a Corrected Proof copy of the article, which is still in press. This may not represent the final version.

Repository Citation

Hennessy, M. B., Deak, T., & Schiml, P. A. (2013). Sociality and Sickness: Have Cytokines Evolved to Serve Social Functions Beyond Times of Pathogen Exposure?. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/psychology/228

DOI

10.1016/j.bbi.2013.10.021