Resting-state posterior alpha power changes with prolonged exposure in a natural environment
Rachel J Hopman1, Sara B LoTemplio2, Emily E Scott2
1Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, 805 Columbus Ave, 670 ISEC, Boston, MA, 02115, USA. r.hopman@northeastern.edu.
Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications
|October 27, 2020
Summary
Spending time in nature may restore attention. This study found lower posterior alpha power, a brainwave measure, during nature exposure, suggesting it could be a biomarker for nature
Area of Science:
- Environmental psychology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive science
Background:
- Exposure to natural environments positively impacts mood, cognition, and physiology.
- Nature exposure is theorized to restore voluntary attention, which depletes with use.
- Natural stimuli require less directed attention, aiding neural resource restoration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural effects of nature exposure on attention using electroencephalography (EEG).
- To determine if posterior alpha power, an EEG measure, changes during and after nature exposure.
Main Methods:
- Measured averaged resting state posterior alpha power in 29 participants.
- Collected EEG data before, during, and after a multiday nature exposure.
- Utilized linear mixed-effects models to analyze changes in posterior alpha power.
Main Results:
- Posterior alpha power was significantly lower during the nature exposure compared to pre- and post-trip testing.
- This finding suggests a measurable neurophysiological response to natural environments.
Conclusions:
- Posterior alpha power may serve as a biomarker for the effects of natural versus urban environments on attention.
- Nature exposure appears to influence brain activity related to attention restoration.
