Expansion of attentional scope modulates postural control, motor strategies, and attentional network connectivity in healthy adults: a proof-of-concept mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Plantar sensory input plays a key role in postural control. However, training protocols that solely amplify this bottom-up input have demonstrated inconsistent efficacy. We hypothesized that a top-down protocol using plantar sensations as a perceptual anchor and expanding the attentional scope from localized plantar sensations to a whole-body reference frame would yield greater improvements than sensory discrimination alone. Methods: Forty-eight healthy adults ( Results: The SDE group demonstrated a significant IPS improvement ( Conclusions: In this proof-of-concept study, expanding attentional scope from a plantar perceptual anchor toward a whole-body reference frame was associated with immediate, group-level changes across measures. Postural stability improved, alongside changes in self-reported motor strategies and resting-state connectivity within attentional circuitry. Enhancing sensitivity to bottom-up plantar input remains fundamental; however, these findings suggest a potential next step-learning how to interpret and use plantar input as a whole-body reference signal for balance regulation. Confirmation in randomized and longitudinal studies, including evaluation in clinical populations, is warranted.