Nike is giving new meaning to the term “sneakerhead” with an ambitious new neuroscience-based footwear line called “Mind.” Developed over the course of 10-plus years using one of the few mobile brain and imaging labs in the world, the inaugural Mind 001 test mule and Mind 002 sneaker are “scientifically shown to activate key sensory areas of the brain via underfoot stimulation,” according to the athleticwear brand. The stimulation and consequent activation aim to sharpen an athlete’s senses and deepen their awareness, “helping ground them in their bodies and bring them back to the present moment.”
The Mind 001 mule offers easy-on, easy-off convenience and comfort, while the Mind 002 sneaker anchors the foot to the footbed for increased sensation and support. Both feature a flexible, water-resistant material embedded with 22 independent foam nodes, which act as pistons and gimbals designed to impart the feeling and texture of the ground directly beneath, thereby heightening sensory awareness.
“Nike Mind is a new sensory-footwear concept that helps reawaken the foot, the body, and the mind,” said Nike executive Eric Avar. “It represents a new paradigm of performance and how we can potentially make athletes better in the future.”
“Focus is everything in football,” added Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland, who’s among hundreds of athletes who have tested Nike Mind footwear over the past five years. “Every step I take, I think of the shoe and what I feel in my feet—which is a good thing. It helps me to bring balance to my game.”
The “Mind” footwear is the first innovation from Nike’s newly formed Mind Science Department, a cutting-edge group within the Nike Sport Research Lab that studies the mind-body connection as it relates to the nervous system, brain activity and cognition of athletes in motion.
“For 45 years, Nike has studied the body in motion—how muscles fire, how joints move, how oxygen fuels performance,” says Dr. Matthew Nurse, Nike’s chief science officer. “Now, we’re expanding into the mind. By studying perception, attention and sensory feedback, we’re tapping into the brain-body connection in new ways. It’s not just about running faster—it’s about feeling more present, focused and resilient. That’s the next frontier of performance.”
The Nike Mind 001 and Mind 002 arrive January 8 on Nike’s website and select stores.
