Storytelling: The biochemical basis of state -dependent learning in narrative transmissio

This study compared a specific immunomodulatory effect between participants who either listened to or read traditional fantasy-theme stories as well as identified differential immunological responses between genders and personality subtypes. Research interests in storytelling's effects have not previously extended to biochemistry, an area which might suggest an association between storytelling and state dependent memory, learning and behavior.;Fifty-six voluntary Psychology students from a private university participated by providing initial baselines of saliva and peripheral temperature. Treatment involved either observing and listening to a video-taped presentation of three fantasy theme stories (experimental group) or silently reading the same three stories (control group) during a 20-minute period. Saliva was volumetrically measured and subjected to radial immunodiffusion to determine secretory immunoglobulin A concentration.;Findings suggest a significant positive association between story listening and immunoenhancement in the experimental group which was not present in the story reading group. Furthermore, participants who endorsed the Myers-Briggs thinking personality type demonstrated significantly greater immunoenhancement than their feeling counterparts. Females demonstrated a slightly greater immunoresponse than males. None of the health variables or indicators of parasympathetic nervous system activation (salivary flow or peripheral temperature) presented consistent evidence of a significant causal relationship.;Implications are discussed with regard to health-care delivery, educational methods, and psychological treatment.