A study by Israeli neuroscientists from Bar-Ilan University has demonstrated that consciously focusing attention on a site of inflammation helps the body better regulate the immune response.
The scientists conducted a series of experiments with 57 healthy volunteers using a standard histamine skin test.
The results were striking: although subjective discomfort increased with focused attention, the immune response itself was significantly better regulated. The average swelling size during focused attention was 3.5 millimeters versus 5.0 millimeters during distraction, and the area of ​​redness decreased from 14.0 to 10.6 millimeters. Nearly 90% of subjects experienced 1.5-1.6 times greater inflammation during distraction. Furthermore, after 20 minutes, the swelling stabilized or decreased in most participants who focused on the sensations, compared to only 46% of those who were distracted.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-026-02541-1
#consciousness #medicine #psychology #immunology #science