Core Viewpoint - The study indicates that the human brain can anticipate potential infections and trigger an immune response even before actual contact with pathogens occurs, showcasing a predictive capability of the brain in response to environmental threats [3][10][11]. Group 1: Research Findings - Researchers equipped healthy volunteers with VR devices to simulate encounters with virtual individuals showing signs of infection, which activated immune responses similar to actual infections [6][9]. - The study found that the presence of virtual infected individuals increased the frequency and activation of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), crucial for the body's first line of defense against pathogens [9][10]. - Functional MRI results identified key brain regions involved in this anticipatory immune response, including the insula, pre-motor cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex, indicating a neural network's role in predicting infection threats [9][10]. Group 2: Implications for Vaccine Development - The findings suggest potential improvements in vaccine strategies by utilizing VR to enhance the activation of immune cells targeted by vaccines, potentially increasing their effectiveness against pathogens [12].