Nine To Noon Science: Positive thinking and immunity, music's effects on driving
Feb 3, 2026
Jen Martin, science communicator and founder of the Science Communication Program at the University of Melbourne, breaks down new wellbeing research. She explores links between positive thinking and vaccine response, explains how brain reward systems can affect immunity, and looks at how music — its volume and familiarity — changes driving behaviour and risk.
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Brain Reward Circuitry Affects Immunity
- Researchers trained volunteers to activate the brain's ventral tegmental area (VTA) using positive imagery and measured real-time brain activity in a scanner.
- Stronger VTA activation correlated with higher antibody responses to a hepatitis B vaccine, showing brain reward circuits can influence immunity.
Measured Brain States, Not Just Optimism
- The study measured brain activity and antibody levels, not self-reported optimism, making the link between expectation and immune response more rigorous.
- It underscores that the immune system is regulated by brain states like expectations, stress, and reward.
Drive With Low, Familiar Music
- Keep car music volume low and prefer familiar tracks to reduce distraction and maintain better speed and distance control.
- Consider turning music off in complex driving conditions or for less experienced drivers to lower crash risk.
