Can the power of positive thinking really affect how the body responds to vaccination? New findings from Israeli researchers are challenging conventional views about the link between the mind and the immune system. It turns out that a person’s mindset can not only improve their mood, but also actually alter biochemical processes in the body, boosting protection against viruses.
In a large-scale experiment, scientists from Tel Aviv University divided volunteers into three groups. One group underwent special neurofeedback training to activate the so-called ‘reward pathway’ in the brain—the area responsible for feelings of pleasure and anticipation of positive events. The second group trained other brain regions unrelated to motivation, while the third group received no mental preparation at all.
Experiment under control
Participants who managed to ‘warm up’ their brains with positive thoughts watched as a face on a screen gradually became happier—this served as a visual indicator of successful activation of the target brain areas. This approach allowed participants to literally feel how their inner attitude was influencing their physiology.
After several training sessions, all volunteers received a standard hepatitis B vaccination. Two and four weeks later, their levels of specific antibodies were measured. The results were unexpected: those who managed to cultivate positive expectations and activate their brain’s ‘pleasure center’ showed a significantly stronger immune response.
Mind and immunity
The effect was most pronounced among those who, at the time of the experiment, were anticipating something pleasant—such as an upcoming vacation or a meeting with loved ones. Their brains responded to positive thoughts with spikes of activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which led to increased antibody production. Researchers note that this reaction is similar to the well-known placebo effect, where belief in successful treatment triggers real physiological changes.
The authors emphasize that this is not about magic, but rather complex neurochemical processes in which dopamine—the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and pleasure—plays a key role. According to experts, dopamine may be the very bridge between the mind and the immune system.
Opportunities and limitations
Despite the impressive results, researchers caution against drawing hasty conclusions. The number of participants was relatively small, and the vaccine’s actual efficacy was not directly assessed. Nevertheless, the data open up new horizons for developing non-invasive methods to support immunity, from oncology to chronic inflammatory diseases.
In the future, such mental training could become part of comprehensive health programs. Experts are already discussing the possibility of using positive expectations as a supplement to traditional medical interventions. However, much more research will be needed before these approaches can be widely adopted.
New Horizons
Psychologists and neuroscientists increasingly argue that the boundaries between body and mind are much more blurred than previously thought. Where immunity was once seen as strictly a matter of biology, it is now clear that emotions, expectations, and even brief moments of joy can trigger complex defense mechanisms.
The question of whether the immune system can actually be ‘trained’ with thoughts remains open. But what is already clear is that a positive mindset isn’t just a pleasant bonus—it’s a real tool that can help the body cope with illness.
If you didn’t know, Tel Aviv University is one of Israel’s leading research centers, actively working at the intersection of medicine, psychology, and neuroscience. Scientists at this university regularly conduct major international projects, whose results are reshaping our understanding of what the human brain and body can do.
