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The most startling finding involved innate lymphoid cells (ILCs)—rapid-response immune sentinels that act like your body's first responders. When participants viewed infectious avatars, these cells showed activation patterns nearly identical to those triggered by actual flu vaccination.

Some ILC subtypes decreased in the bloodstream while becoming more activated—a pattern suggesting they were migrating to tissues in preparation for potential infection. Your immune system was literally repositioning its troops based on a visual cue of a threat that didn't exist.

This isn't just academic curiosity. It represents a fundamental shift in how we understand the immune system. We're not just reactive defenders waiting for pathogens to breach our walls. We're predictive, anticipatory systems constantly preparing for threats we might encounter.

Reference: Neural anticipation of virtual infection triggers an immune response

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