Comparing the effects of a brief walk in nature versus indoors on affect and cognitive function

Research has shown that a single bout of physical activity is associated with cognitive-affective benefits. However, most research has been conducted in controlled laboratory settings. Less is known whether these effects are similar across different environments. The purpose of the study was to compare the effects of a 15 min walk performed in nature versus indoors on affect and cognitive function. Twenty-eight participants (n = 16 female; aged 18-32) completed a 15 min nature walk and 15 min indoor walk in a randomized counterbalanced order on separate days as part of a within-subjects crossover design. Affect, assessed within the circumplex model (affective valence: pleasure-displeasure; perceived activation: high-low arousal), was measured before, during, and immediately after each walk. Following each walk, participants completed a three-stimulus go/no-go task with concurrent electroencephalographic recording to assess cognitive function. Ratings of perceived exertion were collected to determine the intensity of each walk. Results indicated that participants reported increased pleasure and perceived activation during and immediately following the nature compared to indoor walk. Behavioral performance (reaction time and accuracy) on the go/no-go task did not differ between conditions; however, P3 amplitude of the event-related potential (ERP) was significantly larger following the nature walk. Both walks were consistent with a very light intensity. These findings indicate that engaging in a brief walk in nature may result in added cognitive-affective benefits compared to walking indoors. Incorporation of natural settings may be an effective strategy to enhance the affective experience and cognitive aftereffects of a single bout of physical activity.