The urban population of today is surrounded by stress . The world is expected to see a second epidemic. Creating more easily accessible green spaces in cities is crucial for improving individuals' mental health and wellbeing.
While living close to nature is typically helpful for the brain and mental health, it is well recognised that living in a metropolis increases the chance of acquiring mental problems. According to research, those who live in rural areas experience less amygdala activation during stressful situations than those who live in cities, suggesting that being close to nature may have some advantages. This is the conclusion of a recent study conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development's Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience.
In the study case 63 healthy volunteers participated in either a one-hour walk through Berlin's busy shopping district or the Grunewald forest, and the researchers from the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity in stress-related regions before and after each. The study's findings showed that after the walk in nature, amygdala activity decreased, indicating that the brain benefits from being in nature is associated with stress. Even brief contact with nature can reduce amygdala activity, which suggests that going for a stroll in the woods can help prevent mental health issues from occurring and can help to mitigate the negative effects of living in a city.
The necessity of expanding access to green spaces in cities as part of urban design strategies to improve residents' mental health and well-being is once again supported by this new study. Futhermore, In order to assess the good effects of nature across a range of demographics and age groups, researchers are currently embarking on a study comparing the effects of a one-hour walk in natural vs urban locations on stress in mothers and their babies.
