Talk:Neuroimmunology

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I say this article should be moved to Psychoneuroimmunology, and merge in the little that is already there. Any reason not to? --GangofOne 05:57, 2 August 2006 (UTC)

I think the merge would be fine, so long as there's a redirect from Neuroimmunology to Psychoneuroimmunology, and a note that both terms are used. mfourman

It seems to me that Neuroimmunology is focused on the specific immune cells that interact with the brain (microglia etc), which psychoneuroimmunology is used for the interaction between the brain and the entire immune system (placebo effect etc). These may seem to be the same thing at first, but I feel that they are not. One is a biomedical/cellular science, one is more psychological in nature. I do not think these articles should be merged. User:sryshti (October 26, 2006)

Although the focus of PNI and NI have drifted somehow to different directions I believe it could be helpful if the pages were moved together since there is not much content for each one separately. If they become bigger in the future a new dissociation could be rediscussed, but I believe readers would benefit more if their contents were merged. Fpinto 17:02, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I think they should remain separate. Those interesting in CNS immune function should have the "neuroimmunology" page. Psychoneuroimmunology is a separate field. Neuroimmunology and psychoneuroimmunology are distinct fields with distinct issues. For example, an investigation of immunization to improve MCAO outcomes in rats would go under neuroimmunology. Psychoneuroimmunology is more a study of how psychological, neurological, and immunological systems interact to bring about disease. Just as psychology and neurology should not be merged, neuroimmunology and psychneuroimmunology should not be merged.

I've added a lot of info to the PNI page. I'm open to the merge. Fredweis April 14 2006.

Although the link between the nervous and immune systems was found through psychology, PNI and neuroimmunology are completely separate fields of research and should, therefore, be kept separate. Neuroimmunology examines the interactions of these two systems through a cellular approach. This leads to understanding much like the basic science research being performed in neuroscience and immunology. PNI, however, looks at how this interaction affects and is affected by the human being. There is a clear distinction here; merging these two articles would claim that basic science research and psychological research are not two separate, distinct fields.

These pages should be kept separate to allow scientists in neuroimmunology to focus on disease and health from a pathogen/immune driven perspective while psychologists continue to look at these issues from a behavioral or thought driven perspectives. Neurology and psychology are two very different sciences.(User:Awhit) June 20, 2007