Subjective health perception, inflammation and brain function

Mats Lekander

Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, and Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Mats Lekander is Professor and Group leader for Psychoneuroimunology at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm. Mats Lekanders group studies the importance of behaviour in the interplay between the brain, the endocrine and the immune system. Within this framework, Mats Lekanders group study how stress and sleep influences the immune system, and how the immune system in turn influences brain function, subjective (self-rated) health, pain sensitivity and social interactions. The research is conducted in close collaboration between the Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet. The interdisciplinary framework is also used as a stepping stone for intervention research, for example psychological treatment for disturbed sleep or chronic pain, and placebo and acupuncture for nausea.