积极思维如何关联健康？国际最新研究称或助大脑支持免疫系统

Core Findings - A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine indicates that training individuals to activate brain regions associated with rewards and positive expectations may enhance immune responses to vaccines [1][2] - The research involved 85 participants and suggests that positive thinking could non-invasively support the immune system [1] Group 1: Study Methodology - The study focused on the ventral tegmental area (VTA), part of the brain's reward system, which controls motivation and expectation [1] - Researchers developed a novel neuroimaging feedback method to train participants to intentionally enhance activity in the reward-related brain pathways, including the VTA, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) [1] Group 2: Immunological Findings - After four training sessions, all participants received a hepatitis B vaccine, and their blood samples were assessed for immunological responses before and four weeks after vaccination [2] - Participants who maintained higher VTA activity showed a greater increase in protective antibody levels in their plasma [2] Group 3: Implications and Future Research - The study suggests a potential link between specific brain pathways and the immune system, which could help identify targets related to the placebo effect and future therapeutic strategies [2] - The authors caution that the study only measured antibody levels and was not designed to validate clinical vaccine efficacy, indicating the need for larger trials to explore the impact of positive expectations on immune health [2]