Previous studies have already shown that those who live in cities are more susceptible to rumination and negative thoughts, which can increase the risk of mental illness.
To reach these conclusions, the Stanford students proposed a 90-minute walk in the countryside for 19 people while another 19 people went for a walk in an urban environment.
Each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire about their mood before and after their walk. The researchers also scanned the brains of all the guinea pigs.
The scans showed that the area of the brain linked to a high risk of mental illness was less active in those who walked in nature.
“It was quite striking that a 90-minute walk could have so much of an impact,” study author Gregory Bratman, a PhD student in the biology department at Stanford University, told the website. scientific news, LiveScience.
In his report, he explains that “an experience in nature can improve mental well-being”.
He added that these observations also show the importance of green spaces in the heart of cities for mental well-being in a world that continues to urbanize rapidly.
