The brain can detect diseases in others using different senses

In a study led by study researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, it was found that the human brain is more developed at detecting diseases in others and avoiding the disease than previously thought. Combating diseases is the primary function of the immune system, but it has long been thought that avoiding diseases too is part of the survival instinct. To understand brain’s efficacy, the researchers injected a group of participants with harmless bacteria that evoked flu-like symptoms. Smell samples and photographs of these participants were taken and we re presented to the other group that was healthy throughout. The healthy control group displayed less willingness to socialize with people who seemed sick. According to the researchers, this is indicative of the fact that the brain recognizes signals from different senses about ill health of people, which leads to avoidance behavioral.

Read more in Science Daily.