Boost Your Immunity,Look At Sick Pics

Mark Schaller and Will Gervais psychologists at U of BC suggest that just seeing pictures of symptoms of infectious disease, ie. sneezes, lesions, boosts our immunity. Subjects were shown photos associated with infectious illness or of guns (control). Participants white blood cells were then incubated with bacteria. Those exposed to the images of infection demonstrated higher levels of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared with the control (gun picture exposed) subjects.This study is the first evidence that visual perception of other people's illness can boost our immunity. Psychological Science 21(5) pgs. 649-652