Can shoes alter your mind? What neuroscience says about foot sensation and focus

Your feet can send a lot of sensory information to your brain. But whether you believe that your footwear is affecting your cognition may matter more than what shoes you wear.

By: Atom Sarkar, Drexel University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 27, 2026

Words: 1,064

Last Updated: 21 hours, 40 minutes ago

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By Atom Sarkar, Drexel University

Athletic footwear has entered a new era of ambition. No longer content to promise just comfort or performance, Nike claims its shoes can activate the brain, heighten sensory awareness and even improve concentration by stimulating the bottom of your feet.

“By studying perception, attention and sensory feedback, we’re tapping into the brain-body connection in new ways,” said Nike’s chief science officer, Matthew Nurse, in the company’s press release for …

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