Bar-Ilan University study links attention to immune response

A study led by neurologist Liron Rozenkrantz at Bar-Ilan University, published in Nature Human Behaviour, has identified a direct link between mental attention and the regulation of the immune system.

Researchers conducted experiments using histamine skin tests on 37 healthy adults to observe how focus affects inflammatory responses. The study found that when participants concentrated their attention on the sensations of inflammation, they perceived the discomfort as more intense, yet their physical inflammatory response was actually reduced. Specifically, the average size of the swelling (the wheal) was smaller when participants focused on the sensation compared to when they were distracted by videos.

Approximately 90% of participants exhibited a stronger inflammatory reaction when their attention was diverted. These findings suggest that focusing on unpleasant bodily sensations may help the immune system manage inflammation more efficiently, contrary to the common instinct to distract oneself from discomfort.