According to a recent study, our bodies are able to switch on disease-defense mechanisms even before they come into contact with an illness. Using virtual reality, scientists have shown for the first time that perceiving a potential infection can trigger a real immune response — even if no infection occurs.
The experiment involved healthy volunteers who were shown three virtual avatars: a neutral one, a frightening one, and an “infectious” one with visible signs of illness. When such an image approached, the body reacted immediately. Brain regions responsible for defending near space were activated, as was the salience network — the brain’s internal system for selecting the most important stimuli. Through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), the brain sent a signal to the immune system, which caused a surge in its activity.
Interestingly, only the “virtual infection” triggered a complex cascade of interactions between the brain and the immune system. This understanding opens up entirely new possibilities: from self-regulation training and managing immune responses to VR technologies that could prepare the body for potential threats.
Almost like in A Clockwork Orange...
