Focused attention on bodily sensations dampens acute inflammation via brain–body pathways
A three-study, pre-registered investigation using histamine skin-prick inflammation shows that directing attention inward to bodily sensations produces smaller, faster-resolving wheal and flare responses than focusing on external distractors. The effect is robust across participants (about 90% showing the pattern) and is linked to increased parasympathetic (vagal) activity, suggesting two mechanisms: sensory modulation of inflammation-related signals and a top-down autonomic pathway. Notably, reducing sensory input with lidocaine did not abolish the effect, indicating that purely top-down attention can sustain anti-inflammatory regulation. The findings integrate attention, perception, and immune control, with implications for mindfulness-based therapies, while acknowledging model limits and the need to test generalizability to other immune challenges.