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Cognitive Strategies and Natural Environments Interact in Influencing Executive Function
Stefan C Bourrier1, Marc G Berman2, James T Enns1,3
1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Frontiers in Psychology
|August 8, 2018
Summary
Brief nature exposure, not just cognitive strategies, enhances executive functions like attention and memory. This study found nature videos improved cognitive performance, suggesting a direct positive impact on mental functioning.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Executive functions are crucial for goal-directed behavior.
- Both natural environments and cognitive strategies are independently linked to executive function.
- The interplay between environmental exposure and cognitive strategy on executive function remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether exposure to nature and cognitive strategies share common cognitive resources.
- To determine the independent and interactive effects of nature exposure and cognitive strategies on executive mental functioning.
- To explore the direct influence of brief nature exposure on executive function.
Main Methods:
- Three experiments utilized a pretest-posttest design.
- Executive mental functioning was assessed using the backward digit span task and Raven's progressive matrices.
- Manipulations included nature vs. urban video tours and active vs. passive cognitive strategy instructions.
Main Results:
- Nature video tours attenuated the influence of task instructions compared to urban tours.
- An interaction revealed smaller strategy effects on executive function in the nature condition versus the urban condition.
- Brief exposure to nature demonstrated a direct positive influence on executive mental functioning.
Conclusions:
- Nature exposure and cognitive strategies appear to influence executive function through distinct, though interactive, pathways.
- Brief exposure to natural environments can directly enhance executive mental functioning.
- The findings suggest that nature-based interventions could be beneficial for cognitive enhancement.
Keywords:
additive factors logicattention restoration theorycognitive strategiesexecutive functioningnatural environmentsvisual attentionMore Related Videos
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