How Nature Heals Us
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Podcast Summary
Psychologist Marc Berman from the University of Chicago explores the powerful scientific evidence behind nature's ability to heal and restore our minds in ways we're only beginning to understand. (02:00) From Jackson Pollock's transformative move from New York City to the natural environment of Long Island, to military veterans finding relief through surf therapy, the episode demonstrates how spending time in nature can undo some of the harmful effects of our modern, overstimulated lives. (03:57) Berman reveals that nature's benefits extend beyond simple relaxation—it actually restores our ability to focus and think clearly by engaging what researchers call "soft fascination" rather than the harsh demands of urban environments. (27:00) The research shows these cognitive benefits occur even when nature experiences aren't pleasant, suggesting the effects operate independently of our enjoyment. (36:01)
- Main Theme: Nature serves as a powerful, scientifically-backed remedy for mental fatigue, attention deficits, and emotional distress, offering restoration through mechanisms that work even when we don't consciously enjoy the experience.
Speakers
Marc Berman
Marc Berman is a psychologist at the University of Chicago who studies how spending time in nature can help our minds. He is the author of "Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-being." Berman has conducted groundbreaking research on attention restoration theory and has developed innovative approaches like the Retune app to help people find more nature-filled walking routes in urban environments.
Shankar Vedantam
Shankar Vedantam is the host and creator of Hidden Brain, exploring the psychology behind human behavior. He guides listeners through complex scientific research and personal stories to reveal insights about how our minds work and how we can improve our lives through evidence-based approaches.
Key Takeaways
Nature Restores Attention Through "Soft Fascination"
The most significant discovery in nature research is that natural environments engage what scientists call "soft fascination"—stimuli that capture our involuntary attention without depleting our directed attention resources. (24:44) Unlike harsh urban stimulation that demands all our cognitive resources, watching ocean waves or rustling leaves allows our minds to wander while simultaneously restoring our ability to focus. Research shows that participants improved their working memory performance by 20% after a 50-minute nature walk, equivalent to about a digit and a half improvement on complex cognitive tasks. This restoration occurs because nature provides interesting stimulation that doesn't require effortful processing, allowing our directed attention—the kind we use for work and study—to recover from fatigue.
Nature's Benefits Are Independent of Enjoyment
One of the most counterintuitive findings is that nature's cognitive benefits don't depend on whether we enjoy the experience. (35:47) Berman's research found that participants who walked in nature during freezing January weather in Michigan, despite reporting that they "did not like the walk," showed the same cognitive improvements as those who walked on pleasant 80-degree days in June. This suggests that nature works on our brains at a level deeper than conscious preference. The key requirement is that basic safety and comfort needs are met—you can benefit from nature on cloudy, rainy, or cold days as long as you're not in actual distress or danger.
Even Simulated Nature Provides Measurable Benefits
When real nature isn't accessible, simulated natural elements can still provide cognitive restoration. (42:37) Research shows that listening to nature sounds for just 10 minutes can improve performance on attention-demanding tasks like the backwards digit span test. Additionally, having plants in offices and homes—even artificial ones—can lead to benefits similar to real nature exposure. Hospitals have found that fake nature installations can reduce patient pain and improve staff performance. This is particularly important for people living in urban environments or those with limited mobility, as it demonstrates that nature's healing power can be partially accessed through recordings, images, and artificial representations.
Curved Edges and Fractal Patterns Enhance Mental Processing
Nature's restorative power partly comes from its specific visual characteristics that our brains process more easily. (29:43) Natural environments are filled with curved edges—from tree branches to ocean waves—and people consistently prefer images with more curved elements, even in architectural settings. Additionally, nature contains fractal patterns where the same shapes repeat at different scales, like how a tree's branching pattern appears in its trunk, branches, and leaf veins. (30:00) These patterns are "scale-free" and easier for our brains to process because we don't need to catalog every individual element—we can compress the visual information efficiently, reducing cognitive load and allowing for restoration.
Strategic "Naturizing" Can Transform Indoor Environments
You can intentionally bring nature's benefits indoors through strategic environmental design. (50:05) This includes adding plants (real or artificial), incorporating nature sounds, displaying nature artwork, and choosing architecture with natural patterns like curved edges and fractal designs. Berman's research on building facades shows that structures incorporating natural patterns—such as Gothic architecture with its organic curves and intricate details—are perceived as more appealing and natural than rectilinear buildings. (57:58) Even airports and hospitals are adopting these principles, creating green walls and nature-themed spaces that help calm people during stressful experiences. The key is to incorporate multiple natural elements wherever possible while understanding that even partial simulation can provide meaningful benefits.
Statistics & Facts
- Participants improved their working memory performance by approximately 20% (about one and a half digits on the backwards digit span task) after a 50-minute walk in nature compared to an urban walk. (34:11) This improvement occurred consistently regardless of weather conditions or enjoyment level.
- The share of American adults taking prescription drugs for mental health conditions stood at 19% in 2022, according to Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of government data. (01:29) This represents millions of people taking medication for anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
- Brief interactions with nature, like a 20-minute nature walk, can be as beneficial as a dose of Ritalin for children with ADHD. (44:32) This demonstrates nature's potential as a supplemental therapy for attention disorders.
