Inspired by a notable 2008 study published in Psychological Science that suggested seeing photos of nature may improve attention functioning in young adults, a 2014 study published in Experimental Aging Research found that executive attention visibly improved in both older adults (64 to 79 year olds) and university-aged subjects (18 to 25 year olds) after short exposure to photos of nature. Good news for city dwellers with less access to nature: the participants’ attention immediately prior to and after seeing the nature photos was measured, and the study found that seeing those pictures did improve short-term attention and memory in both age groups.
Considering that nearly 70% of the global population is projected to be living in urban areas by the year 2050, according to the UN, it's important to recognize the impact that even a few moments out in nature can have on peoples' overall well-being. Whether it involves planning a weekend camping trip, or simply going for a stroll outside during lunch, sneaking in some time outdoors is probably a good idea.
Studies cited:
Alcock, I., White, M. P., Wheeler, B. W., Fleming, L. E., & Depledge, M. H. (2014). Longitudinal effects on mental health of moving to greener and less green urban areas. Environmental science & technology, 48(2), 1247–1255. https://doi.org/10.1021/es403688w
Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological science, 19(12), 1207–1212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02225.x
Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(28), 8567–8572.
Ewert, A., & Chang, Y. (2018). Levels of Nature and Stress Response. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 8(5), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8050049
Gamble, K. R., Howard, J. H., Jr, & Howard, D. V. (2014). Not just scenery: viewing nature pictures improves executive attention in older adults. Experimental aging research, 40(5), 513–530. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361073X.2014.956618
Neill, C., Gerard, J. & Arbuthnott, K. (2019) Nature contact and mood benefits: contact duration and mood type, The Journal of Positive Psychology,14:6, 756-767,DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2018.1557242
Stretton, J., Pope, R. A., Winston, G. P., Sidhu, M. K., Symms, M., Duncan, J. S., Koepp, M., Thompson, P. J., & Foong, J. (2015). Temporal lobe epilepsy and affective disorders: the role of the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 86(2), 144–151. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2013-306966
Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental research, 166, 628–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030