Overview

• The study exposed 248 healthy adults to virtual avatars exhibiting symptoms like coughing or rash while recording EEG, fMRI and blood samples.
• Participants exhibited elevated activity of innate lymphoid cells upon encountering ‘sick’ avatars, signaling preemptive immune mobilization.
• EEG and fMRI measurements revealed increased engagement of brain regions involved in sensory integration and peripersonal space monitoring.
• Subjects showed heightened facial touch sensitivity when avatars perceived as infectious entered their peripersonal space.
• Researchers report that this VR-induced immune activation mirrors responses to influenza vaccination and emphasize the need for further exploration of neural-immune interactions.