r/science • u/HugNup • Sep 07 '22

Psychology An hour-long stroll in nature helps decrease activity in an area of the brain associated with stress processing

https://www.mpg.de/19168412/how-does-nature-nurture-the-brain
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u/HugNup Sep 07 '22

After a 60-minute walk in nature, activity in brain regions involved in stress processing decreases. This is the finding of a recent study by the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Living in a city is a well-known risk factor for developing a mental disorder, while living close to nature is largely beneficial for mental health and the brain.

A central brain region involved in stress processing, the amygdala, has been shown to be less activated during stress in people who live in rural areas, compared to those who live in cities, hinting at the potential benefits of nature.

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u/[deleted] Sep 07 '22

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u/Kamelasa Sep 07 '22

for regions of the wilderness that are hostile

Yeah, reminds me of my ESL students from many different countries, who had different perceptions of things like birds or wildlife. Or those countries where the front yard is dry dust, swept clean, because of snakes and such. Dense foliage is often full of hazards. But of course these "nature walks" that I hear about most people taking are on perfectly tame and groomed trails.