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American sportswear company Nike has launched a new shoe line called “Nike Mind” which includes two models.

Mind 001 and Mind 002. According to the company these shoes are designe not only to improve physical performance but also to positively affect mental focus attention and calmness.

How Nike says the shoes work

Nike claims that these shoes gently stimulate the soles of the feet.

This stimulation is said to activate certain neural pathways in the brain helping athletes feel more present relaxed and focused especially during high pressure moments.

What Nike’s science team claims

In a press release Nike’s Chief Science Officer Matthew Nurse said the company studied awareness mental focus and body sensations to better understand the connection between the brain and the body.

He explained that Nike’s goal is not only to help athletes run faster but also to help them feel more confident focused and mentally present in the moment.

Difference between mind 001 and mind 002

Mind 001 is an easy to wear slide shoe.

Mind 002 is a sneaker designed to provide a stronger sensory experience.

Each shoe contains 22 small foam nodes that move like tiny pistons.

These nodes stimulate thousands of sensitive nerves in the feet.

Foot sensitivity and design

Nike engineers used a test called “two-point discrimination” to measure foot sensitivity.

Based on this test the nodes are placed closer together in the front part of the foot which is more sensitive and better at detecting details.

Nike says this sensory input helps athletes feel more grounded and present.

It may also shift brain activity from the default mode network (linked to mind wandering) to the sensory motor network which supports focus on the present moment.

Experts urge caution

Many experts are cautious about Nike’s claims.

Dr. Atam Sarkar, Professor of Neurosurgery at Drexel University says that while shoes can change how the feet feel and move this does not automatically mean they improve thinking or mental focus.

He explains that more sensory input does not always lead to better concentration.

For some people extra stimulation may actually overload the brain and make focus harder.

Sensation does not always mean better focus

In simple terms shoes can change the experience of the feet but that does not directly mean they improve attention or concentration.

Sometimes too much sensation can make the brain feel tired or confused reducing focus instead of improving it.

What science says so far

Nike says its internal brain scans show changes in brain waves.

However neuroscientists point out that there is no strong scientific proof that foot stimulation alone can improve focus in healthy individuals.

Attention and concentration involve complex brain systems including the prefrontal cortex parietal regions and neurotransmitters like dopamine not just sensory signals from the feet.

Limited evidence from studies

Some studies suggest that light sensory stimulation may slightly improve attention in specific situations such as balance training in older adults.

However these effects are small and limited to certain conditions.

Price and availability

The Nike Mind series is now available in the market with prices starting at £79.99.

Nike says the shoes are designed to improve both athletic performance and mental focus but scientists emphasize that current evidence does not fully support these claims.

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