Has our urban environment impacted our brain function and stress? German neuroscientists investigated the impact that urban living has on mental health, asking, “Can exposure to nature benefit us?” Researchers asked 60 healthy participants to take two one-hour-long walks. One in an urban environment, the other in a natural environment. Then they measured the participants’ physiological stress indicators and gave them fMRI scans. Results? The natural environment reduced the amygdala activity associated with stress, whereas urban environments had no such effect. The amygdala is part of your brain responsible for processing emotions, like fear and anxiety. This amygdala activity reduction occurs during fearful and neutral situations without participants' awareness. Participants reported greater enjoyment during their nature walks, although there were no significant behavioral changes. These findings hint at nature's subtle yet impactful influence on our mental well-being. Time in natural settings can refocus our attention and reduce our stress. Lesson?! Get out in nature. Find the beauty! Open your senses! Notice bird’s antics, bees buzzing, branches curving! Spending time in nature impacts our brains, lowers stress, and reduces the mental health challenges of urban living. Reference: Sudimac, S., Sale, V., & Kühn, S. (2022). How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature. Molecular Psychiatry, 27, 4446–4452. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01720-6

Written by Jarret Bain B.S.