Ann Brummitt
Milwaukee July 23, 2015
We are the most successful species? Really? We are on the verge of causing an global ecosystem collapse and we are the most successful? Not sure i agree.
Lowell
NYC July 22, 2015
There are already decades of peer-reviewed research on the restorative effects of nature on mood and cognition, many of them much more rigorous and with larger samples than Mr. Bratman's studies, as his lit reviews would show. (It's called Environmental Psychology, by the way.) Yet another "Gee whiz" article about what any of us know already, as some of the comments rightly note. Yet most of the local commenters write from their relatively safe neighborhoods and take for granted that the more sedate parts of Central Park, Prospect Park, Riverside Drive, etc are there for their enjoyment. Instead ask the residents of dangerous overcrowded neighborhoods in NYC and elsewhere what they think of our precious Nature: to them it's threatening and chaotic, and so they prefer instead to cocoon themselves and their children indoors in front of cheap flat screen TVs and low-information online dreck. Those are the folks who truly need free access to safe and restorative natural settings, not the jaded denizens of NYT-land.
Naomi
San Francisco July 22, 2015
I've lived most of my life in a small city down the coast from San Francisco, a city with much less hardscape than SF, and more hills and trees. While I lived in SF, I had a lot of trouble with anxiety and depression, but each time I went for a walk along a wooded lake in Golden Gate Park, the emotional clouds would lift almost instantly. (Unfortunately, they re-descended as soon as I left the park.)
dmutchler
July 22, 2015
A (or some) Japanese researchers have been looking at 'forest bathing' for the past few years. The conclusion is a general heightened sense of 'feel good' and overall wellness, possibly more than mere psychological (more oxygen in the forest).
I would hope Bratman et al has looked at 'forest bathing' and cited the work already done.
I would hope Bratman et al has looked at 'forest bathing' and cited the work already done.
michael.whitlock
New York, NY July 22, 2015
Try taking a long walk in certain spots on Manhattan city streets at dawn on a Sunday morning. Empty streets, few, but only occasional vehicles on the avenues. There is also peace, serenity, awe, and beauty which can be captured and which I find similar to what Reynolds describes in her resources found in nature. Many details in the city at this time become relevant and enjoyable that are not, or cannot be sensed during the stress and anxiety felt during the fast-paced and on guard other times of day and evening.
Nancy Robertson
Alabama July 23, 2015
Absolutely true. Also, I think it's important to remember that not every natural environment is peaceful or restful.
N.B.
Raymond July 22, 2015
I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
John Muir (1838 - 1914)
John Muir (1838 - 1914)
Michelle
San Francisco July 22, 2015
I strongly think that the most outstanding factor here is the NOISE level. Our urban environment is utterly noisy, which is tantamount to getting repetitive small concussions on the brain. Walking along the highways without headphones, as if that would help, brings so much noise into the auditory nerve and in to the inner ear, to the brain. Plus the pollution with all the noxious products in it. I hope this study will lead to a redirection toward this plague of noise and more noise.
Nafiss Griffis
Nafiss Griffis
CGRILL
Tallahassee, FL July 23, 2015
Thank you, pollution and noise are clearly huge confounders in this study, to name but a few.
Petey Tonei
Massachusetts July 23, 2015
Not to mention that along the highway you inhale a lot of exhaust fuels. Walking in nature on the other hand, you inhale pure oxygen generated by the plants photosynthetically.
John Serfustini
Price, UT July 22, 2015
You don't need lush woods and forests. In the desert north of my home, dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles have torn up arid land. In the places that have not been gouged, little flowers bloom. This is neither a grand vista nor a place populated with towering trees. However, a daily walk gets you acquainted with these little guys on a one-on-one basis. You get philosophical about how they blossom with a little water and poor soil, individuals widely separated and struggling quietly to survive. Birds do the background music at dawn. Good cardio for a walker, probably as good for the mind.
Frank
Oz July 22, 2015
I grew up in the country - quiet - and boring - when there's no-one else for miles around it can be kinda scary - and stultifying - not much intellectual activity from those uneducated farmers
now I live in the centre of a city - exciting - and actually quieter when I want it - during the week it may be more noisy (tho' I live in a cul-de-sac with no through-traffic) while I'm away at work so I don't hear it - on the weekend when I'm at home it's quiet - so perfect.
also just a short stroll away is a recent world's best tall building -
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/one-central-park-sydney-nam... - which has lots of green plants on its outside vertical walls so is quite lovely to walk around - https://goo.gl/Y7YAzw
I reckon peace comes from inside your mind - skip the sugar and excess calories, relax your mind, focus on now, gaze at the beauty of nature - and I can be absorbed by the beauty of a single leaf on a busy city street
now I live in the centre of a city - exciting - and actually quieter when I want it - during the week it may be more noisy (tho' I live in a cul-de-sac with no through-traffic) while I'm away at work so I don't hear it - on the weekend when I'm at home it's quiet - so perfect.
also just a short stroll away is a recent world's best tall building -
http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/one-central-park-sydney-nam... - which has lots of green plants on its outside vertical walls so is quite lovely to walk around - https://goo.gl/Y7YAzw
I reckon peace comes from inside your mind - skip the sugar and excess calories, relax your mind, focus on now, gaze at the beauty of nature - and I can be absorbed by the beauty of a single leaf on a busy city street
bob
Houston, Texas July 22, 2015
Or, you could permanently improve your mental health and move into the Outback permanently...
Robert
Montreal July 22, 2015
And what happens if the forest is full of mosquitoes and black flies?
Martha Shelley
Portland, OR July 22, 2015
Even going out into the back yard to clean the chicken coop makes me feel better--clears my mind from working at the computer.
AAL
Shavertown, PA July 22, 2015
Shucks, William Wordsworth told us as much 200 years ago. Jon L
Martha Goff
Sacramento CA July 22, 2015
I have plenty of access to lush, green park-like grounds most of the year at my workplace and around my home. I also have chairs in both places that are equipped with excruciatingly powerful butt magnets. Like many others, I struggle (mostly unsuccessfully) to get away from my screens long enough to actually avail myself of the beauties of nature. Once we solve that question, we will all be happier.
Concerned MD
Pennsylvania July 23, 2015
Ha! "Butt magnets" -- love it!
Randolph
American heartland July 22, 2015
"That portion... were quieter"?
The literacy level of newspaper journalists these days is incredibly poor.
It should be "that portion... was quieter." "Were" would be appropriate for a plural subject.
The literacy level of newspaper journalists these days is incredibly poor.
It should be "that portion... was quieter." "Were" would be appropriate for a plural subject.
Henry Hughes
Marblemount, Washington July 23, 2015
The pettiness of newspaper commenters these days is incredibly prevalent.
Even a New York Times writer like Gretchen Reynolds can make a simple mistake. And every now and then editors don't catch them.
Maybe a walk in the park would promote a little generosity of spirit.
Even a New York Times writer like Gretchen Reynolds can make a simple mistake. And every now and then editors don't catch them.
Maybe a walk in the park would promote a little generosity of spirit.
Jean Skinner
New Orleans July 23, 2015
I'm sure you are usually polite, Randolph, and you know, of course, that everyone makes mistakes in grammar at one time or another. Maybe a quiet walk would help you feel better?
Paul Adams
Stony Brook July 22, 2015
wow - mental processes manifest as physical processes in the brain! I always thought those physical processes were in the big toes.
Withheld
Lake Elmo, MN July 22, 2015
You don't need a professional psychologist to know about the psychological benefit of visual and immediate contact with open space, particularly water. Any real estate agent will tell you an apartment on Central Park or overlooking the Hudson River will fetch more than one that overlooks the hustle and bustle of the City and much more than one that faces a brick wall 20 feet away. This article is helpful for those who don't get it and ought to be read by the millions of people moving into the new 120,000,000 person metropolis being built around Bejing. Talk about stress -- coming from a quiet rural farm and being stuck on the 12th floor of a 25 story high rise apartment facing dozens of other 25 story high rises has to be a form of mental torture.
The two crowded parks referenced in that article are proof that parkland is an essential component of habitable areas.
The two crowded parks referenced in that article are proof that parkland is an essential component of habitable areas.
Donutrider
Fairfax, VA July 22, 2015
Important to received this reminder of benefits from the natural world around us. It's fundamental to who we are! Few people retain a connection with nature then ever before and in todays 'modern' society we may forget we are not apart from nature, but a part of nature.
Ed Loewenton
Morrisville, Vermont July 22, 2015
To the authors: why the subgenual PFC? How is that associated with negative cognitive states?
Alex
Berkeley July 22, 2015
There is no way that I would ever find a walk next to heavy traffic as relaxing or soothing. I read this and think, duh, do we really need a study for this. I'd be more interested to know how walking in nature stacks up to other activities urban dwellers might see as soothing - such as meditating or sitting in a quiet space, like a library, with a book.
bluejayer
toronto July 22, 2015
I returned yesterday from a day trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario. What intrigued me was the beauty and awe of the falls, and all the human-made distractions up on Clifton Hill for the bored human beings. So sad that many humans have stepped away from nature in pursuit of the glitz and glitter of temporary happiness. Gee...you can even sit for hours in a casino without spending more than 2 minutes being inspired by the power of the falls.
LW
Best Coast July 22, 2015
The tranquility of the trek can sometimes be upset with notice of sightings of mountain lions, bears, coyotes, and dogs off leash. Aw nature...............
Stan Continople
Brooklyn July 22, 2015
Walking in nature also means having to take inventory of your environment on a continuous basis rather than at the next traffic light. This would clearly deprive obsessive ruminations of the energy needed to sustain them. Running an obstacle course might be less calming but just as effective.
Ed Loewenton
Morrisville, Vermont July 23, 2015
No, not true. I do a lot of "real" hiking - steep uphill walking at a fast pace. On the way up my internal dialog is fairly active, since a lot of mental, as well as metabolic, energy, is devoted to keeping a pace. On the way down, my internal dialog is even more active, but tends to be much more positive in content. Occasionally I try to shut it off ("meditative" state) - more about that experience some other time. It is the strenuous and repetitive activity that makes the difference. Briefly, prolonged repetitive activity enhances certain kinds of serotonergic activity, and enhances the production of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which helps create new hippocampal brain cells, which, among other things, can assist in stress regulation by acting as "brakes" on the stress response system. There are also a variety of other benefits to the strenuous walk - enhanced fitness can have a positive effect on self-image and cognitive tone.