Abstract
Immunoregulatory processes are influenced by the brain and the brain shows some lateralized immunomodulation. Physiologically direct photic routes to the frontal lobes are implicated also in human and this penetration of visible light through the cranial bone is considered to influence immune response. To detect immunomodulation by the brain and its lateralization non-invasively and effectively, we examined natural killer cell activity (NK activity) and number of peripheral NK cells (CD57^-CD16^+) in an experiment in which we exposed each subject's forehead to a red light diode while their eyes were shielded. We also studied the relationship between changes in these immunological parameters and the change in brain alpha waves. No significant changes in effective amplitude of alpha waves, NK activity and in the level of CD57^-CD16^+ measured immediately before and after the 21st period were observed. But among these parameters, a correlation was observed between the change in level of CD57^-CD16^+ and the change in effective amplitude of the first 5-minute alpha waves. This correlation was significant in the right cerebral hemisphere. The right cerebral hemisphere is considered to be related to the release of some neurotransmitter which increases circulating NK cells.
