New research shows positive effects of spending time outdoors on the brain
A team in Germany have just published a new study that adds to the growing evidence for the health benefits of being outside. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute conducted MRI scans of the brains of six participants to see the effects of time outdoors.
They found a positive response in grey matter in the right dorsolateral-prefrontal cortex. That’s the part of the brain involved in planning and regulation of actions – where a reduction in grey matter is linked to many psychiatric disorders.
Simone Kuehn, who is head of the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, said: “Our results show that our brain structure and mood improve when we spend time outdoors. This most likely also affects concentration, working memory, and the psyche as a whole. We are investigating this in an ongoing study.”
Anna Mascherek, a post-doctoral fellow at the Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and co-author of the study, added: “These findings provide neuroscientific support for the treatment of mental disorders. Doctors could prescribe a walk in the fresh air as part of the therapy.”
The team now plans to go on to directly compare the effects of green environments versus urban spaces on the brain. Some of their previous research found that urban dwellers who live near to forests had better “structural integrity” in their amygdalas, suggesting they experienced less fear and anxiety.
You can find out more for yourself in a press release from the Max Planck Institute here.