This does not mean that hope cures diseases, but it does suggest the possibility of using mental strategies to support the immune system.
Professor Talma Hendler of Tel Aviv University said: "For the first time, there appears to be a causal relationship between them in humans; if a person learns to consciously activate the reward system in the brain, the effectiveness of the immunization increases."
Positive expectations can help patients, as clearly demonstrated by the placebo effect. The study involved healthy volunteers who underwent neurological training to increase activity in specific brain regions. After four training sessions, the participants received the hepatitis B vaccine, and blood tests showed that the immune response was stronger in those who showed increased activity in the ventromedial region, part of the brain's reward system.
This effect may boost patients' immunity, but larger trials are needed to confirm its clinical significance. The team is also investigating the impact of this approach on other parts of the immune system.
Lead researcher Nitzan Lubianeker stressed that "the approach we are proposing is a purely complementary tool that can increase the effectiveness of vaccination, but it cannot and should not replace vaccines or traditional medical care."
