"Twenty-two foam nubs protrude from the bottom of this shoe. When I slide it on, it almost feels like I'm walking on bubble tape-or like, with every step, an octopus tentacle is suctioning to my foot. Even through a thick cotton sock and all that foam, I can feel textures underfoot. I sense the individual blades of grass on a soccer pitch, and dragging my sole along a textured running track feels a bit akin to licking the roof of my mouth."
"This is Nike Mind-the company's first foray into apparel that puts your brain before your body, hacking your physiology to change your state of mind through applied neuroscience. Available January 2026 in two flavors (a slide called Mind 01 and a sneaker called Mind 02), the new line "was designed to help amplify that dialogue between your brain and your feet," says Matthew Nurse, chief science officer at Nike."
"Everything around us is stimuli that ultimately affects our brain, and designers are now taking a closer look at how we can apply the past 20 years of neuroscience (in a field often dubbed neuroaesthetics) to their work. Nike is positioning Mind as a "sensory intervention" in an athlete's pregame ritual, a way to calm down in the locker room before a big competition."
Nike Mind is a footwear line designed to modulate mental state through applied neuroscience, arriving January 2026 as a slide (Mind 01) and a sneaker (Mind 02). Twenty-two foam nubs on the sole create pronounced tactile sensations that make wearers more mindful and aware of ground textures, even through socks. The design treats the body as a "sensory antenna," using sensory input to alter brain states, a practice tied to neuroaesthetics. Nike positions Mind as a "sensory intervention" to calm athletes pregame and to automate moments of mindfulness. Nike is expanding focus from physical performance tools to apparel that measurably changes how people feel.
Read at Fast Company
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