Long-Term Exposure to Greenspace and Cognitive Function during the Lifespan: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Environmental psychology increasingly recognizes greenspace exposure's positive impact on cognitive abilities.
• Understanding the long-term effects of greenspace on cognition across the lifespan is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the association between long-term greenspace exposure and cognitive functions.
• To synthesize evidence across different age groups and cognitive domains.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines and employing the PECOs method.
• Inclusion criteria screened 25 studies from Scopus, PubMed, and PsycINFO.
• Greenspace exposure assessed primarily using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI).

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests a beneficial role of greenspace exposure on cognitive functions, though findings were inconsistent.
• Academic achievement, global cognition, attention/executive functions, and memory were common outcome measures.
• The majority of studies focused on schoolchildren, with fewer on adults and the elderly.

Conclusions:

• Greenspace exposure shows a suggestive, albeit inconsistent, benefit for cognitive functions.
• Further longitudinal studies are recommended, particularly for adult and elderly populations.
• Continued research in environmental psychology is needed to clarify these associations.