Prospective associations between lateralised brain function and immune status in HIV infection: analysis of EEG, cognition and mood over 30 months

Prospective relations between individual differences in both lateralised neuro-psychophysiological functions and mood ratings with immune status (CD4 and CD8 counts) were examined in asymptomatic HIV-positive men (n = 27) over thirty months. They participated in a controlled study of zidovudine versus placebo (results published elsewhere). Measures included EEG spectra, neuropsychological tests and mood ratings. A model of reciprocal lateralised influences on the immune system was tested whereby patients with left superior to right hemispheric functions were predicted to show a less deleterious outcome than those with the opposite asymmetry pattern. Prospective relations with immune status were found in the EEG with lateralised theta, alpha and beta activity; among cognitive measures with word fluency, semantic processing, and lateralised motor and recognition memory (word/face) processes; with mood ratings including depression, confusion and the total mood score. The nature of the effects supported the laterality predictions. These unique data, showing that neuro-psychophysiological factors in HIV+ but otherwise healthy subjects predict immune competence and compromise present 2-3 years later, warrant replication in a larger cohort.