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Living or growing up close to nature: surprising effects on the brain

Credits: belajatiraihanfahrizi - PIxabay
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According to a study published in Science Daily on the 23rd February 2018, completed by researchers in the University of California, growing up close to nature or green areas could have unexpected effects on the brain. 

Nature promotes brain development

Theoretically, when you grow up close to nature, as long as you aren’t surrounded by fields regularly sprayed with pesticides, you breathe in purer air than you would in the city. It is easier to go out for a walk, and children have the space to play, run around, and build huts, etc.

According to the website, “being raised in greener neighborhoods may have beneficial effects on brain development”.

The Californian researchers analysed the data gathered on the brain development of 253 school children in Barcelona. They reviewed their cognitive abilities (memory, attention) using high resolution magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) scans, and they compared this data with other variables such as where the children lived.

They concluded that children who lived close to nature or natural spaces had the best results in terms of memory, attention and reasoning abilities. 

Credits: EME – Pixabay

We need to bring nature into the towns and cities

The scientists confirmed that exposure to green areas was linked to a higher volume of white and grey matter in children, which means better abilities in terms of learning, attention, reasoning and memory. We assume that similar tests carried out on adults would yield similar results.

According to Michael Jerrett, a co-author of the study, “the study adds to growing evidence suggesting that early life exposure to green space and other environmental factors can exert measurable and lasting effects on our health through the life course“.

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