Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation

TLDR

More than half of the global population now lives in urban areas, projected to rise to 70% by 2050, and urbanization is linked to higher mental illness rates, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The study aimed to determine whether a nature experience could reduce rumination, a known risk factor for mental illness. The authors conducted a controlled experiment in which participants walked for 90 minutes through either a natural or an urban environment. Participants who walked 90 minutes in a natural setting reported less rumination and reduced activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex compared to those who walked in an urban setting, indicating that accessible natural areas may be crucial for mental health amid rapid urbanization.

Abstract

Significance More than 50% of people now live in urban areas. By 2050 this proportion will be 70%. Urbanization is associated with increased levels of mental illness, but it’s not yet clear why. Through a controlled experiment, we investigated whether nature experience would influence rumination (repetitive thought focused on negative aspects of the self), a known risk factor for mental illness. Participants who went on a 90-min walk through a natural environment reported lower levels of rumination and showed reduced neural activity in an area of the brain linked to risk for mental illness compared with those who walked through an urban environment. These results suggest that accessible natural areas may be vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world.