Your brain as an early warning system: how watching videos of people with colds can benefit you
When you see people with a cold, your brain reacts and activates the immune system even before pathogens enter the body. Researchers at the University of Hamburg have shown that watching videos of people with a cold is enough to do this.
A sneeze in the row of cinema seats in front of you makes you involuntarily recoil. Your throat starts to scratch. Don't panic - this is not the start of an infection. On the contrary: your body has just activated its sophisticated early warning system to protect you.
A recent study by the University of Hamburg has shown that our brain and immune system react before a pathogen even enters the body.
How your behavioural immune system protects you
To protect you from infections, your body has developed a whole range of defence mechanisms. The biological immune system, consisting of cells and molecules such as white blood cells and antibodies, can recognise pathogens and fight them effectively. However, to prevent this from happening, your behavioural immune system protects you in advance of infection. And this is exactly what the scientists were able to observe in the study.
The research team showed 62 test subjects videos of sneezing and healthy people. They examined two aspects: firstly, brain activity and secondly, the immune response of the participants in the form of antibodies in their saliva.
When the study participants watched videos of sick people, this triggered increased activation of a brain region called the "anterior insula". Dr Esther Diekhof explains: "The anterior insula is an important interface between the brain and the immune system. It helps us to recognise the reactions of our own body." If the anterior insula is alerted, it ensures that the body prepares for an impending infection.
Your body is arming itself: Antibodies on alert
The test subjects produced more antibodies in their saliva when they saw videos of sick people. The alarm signal from the brain thus activates the biological immune system. The antibodies, more specifically secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), are the first line of defence against pathogens in the respiratory tract.
Normally, they are released when pathogens actually hit your mucous membranes. But your body is one step ahead of this and produces them as a precautionary measure, not waiting until the pathogens come knocking, but preparing for an emergency at the mere sight of potentially sick people.
So, the next time you're sitting in the cinema and someone sneezes - sit back and relax, your body will take care of it.
Header image: Edward Jenner/Pexels
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Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
