Posted by Jeff on Jul 24, 2015 @ 2:58 am in Hiking News | 2 comments | Last modified: July 23, 2015
Taking a stroll in the park may soothe the mind and, in the process, change the workings of our brains in ways that improve mental health, according to a new study of the physical effects on the brain of visiting nature.
Most of us today live in cities and spend far less time outside in green, natural spaces than people did several generations ago. City dwellers also have a higher risk for anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses than people living outside urban centers, studies show.
These developments seem to be linked to some extent, according to a growing body of research. Various studies have found that urban dwellers with little access to green spaces have a higher incidence of psychological problems than people living near parks and that city dwellers who visit natural environments have lower levels of stress hormones immediately afterward than people who have not recently been outside.
But just how a visit to a park or other green space might alter mood has been unclear. Does experiencing nature actually change our brains in some way that affects our emotional health?
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I meant to respond to this article in a more timely fashion but just let it slip. I learned thru my teaching of psychology of the following web page that has several interesting articles on benefits of hiking in different ways. Let me know what you think.
http://www.hikingresearch.com/
Thanks for the tip Tim. I will check it out.