The NeuroImmune Network Hypothesis

The NeuroImmune Network Hypothesis (NIN)  combines both biological and social factors to suggest how stress gets under the skin of children who experience chronic stress and then leads to life long mental and physical health problems. This biosocial approach suggests that the mechanisms that have been uncovered through research on biological and social processes can be better understood through a more wholistic approach which investigates how these systems interact with each other and further the effects of stress. Much of the work at CFR is informed by the NIN including our current work in our P50.

The NIN was developed by Drs. Robin Nusslock and Gregory Miller at Northwestern University. This video, featuring Dr. Nusslock, introduces the concept.

NIN hypothesis papers

Nusslock, R., & Miller, G. E. (2016). Early-Life Adversity and Physical and Emotional Health Across the Lifespan: A Neuroimmune Network Hypothesis. Biological psychiatry, 80(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.017  PMCID: PMC4670279

Hostinar, C. E., Nusslock, R., & Miller, G. E. (2017). Future Directions in the Study of Early-Life Stress and Physical and Emotional Health: Implications of the Neuroimmune Network Hypothesis. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 47(1), 142–156. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1266647