Upregulation of reward mesolimbic activity and immune response to vaccination: a randomized controlled trial, 2026, Lubianiker et al.

[Chandelier]

Upregulation of reward mesolimbic activity and immune response to vaccination: a randomized controlled trial

Spoiler: Authors

Lubianiker, Nitzan; Koren, Tamar; Djerasi, Meshi; Sirotkin, Margarita; Singer, Neomi; Jalon, Itamar; Lerner, Avigail; Sar-el, Roi; Sharon, Haggai; Shahar, Moni; Azulay-Debby, Hilla; Rolls, Asya; Hendler, Talma

Abstract​

Growing evidence points to a close neurophysiological link between brain and body.
Recent rodent studies have shown that the dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway, which underlies expectations of positive outcomes, also modulates immune function.
However, it remains unknown whether a similar brain-immune link exists in humans and whether it involves conscious positive expectations.

In a preregistered, double-blind randomized controlled trial, we used fMRI neurofeedback (NF) to train healthy participants to increase reward mesolimbic activity through self-chosen mental strategies, followed by an immune challenge with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine and assessments of HBV antibody (HBVab) levels.
Eighty-five participants were randomized to (1) reward mesolimbic upregulation (n = 34), (2) non-mesolimbic control upregulation (n = 34) or (3) no-NF control (n = 17).
Prespecified primary outcomes were (1) differences in reward mesolimbic activation between NF groups, (2) correlation between reward mesolimbic upregulation and post-vaccination HBVab changes across both NF groups and (3) group differences in post-vaccination HBVab changes.

Both NF groups showed significant increases in reward mesolimbic activation. Notably, greater ventral tegmental area (VTA) upregulation—but not nucleus accumbens or control region activation—was associated with larger post-vaccination increases in HBVab levels (r = 0.31, P = 0.018).
Sustained VTA upregulation was further linked to mental strategies involving positive expectations.
Post-vaccination antibody levels did not differ between groups, and no adverse effects occurred.

Together, these findings suggest that consciously generated positive expectations can engage reward circuitry to influence immune function, a process that may be leveraged for non-invasive immune modulation.

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Web | DOI | PDF | Nature Medicine

 

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Hirnforschung: Positives Denken könnte das Immunsystem stärken

Menschen mit einem aktiven Belohnungssystem entwickeln stärkere Immunantworten auf Impfungen. Zu dem Schluss kommt eine Untersuchung aus Israel. Hat das eine evolutionäre Ursache?

www.spiegel.de

600-word article about this study.

AI Summary:

Positive Thinking May Strengthen the Immune System

A study from Israel published in Nature Medicine investigates neurological processes behind the idea that positive thinking can slightly enhance immune responses to vaccines. Researchers note that placebo effects from optimistic expectations are well documented, but the underlying neural mechanisms are still poorly understood. To explore this, they studied 85 people planning to receive a hepatitis B vaccination.

Thirty-four participants were trained using neurofeedback, a technique that allows people to learn how to activate specific brain areas while in a brain scanner. They used mental strategies such as recalling positive memories or focusing on their bodies, which enabled them to activate reward pathways in deep brain structures, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Other participants were trained to activate different brain regions or received no training.

All participants were then vaccinated. Blood samples taken two and four weeks later showed that individuals with higher VTA activity had higher hepatitis B antibody levels. Independent researchers described the effect as small but noteworthy. The authors suggest that brain signals may influence immune cells via nerves and that this connection could have evolutionary origins related to reward and exposure to pathogens.