Nature Walks Make You Smarter

By Josh PetersonLos Angeles, CA, USA | May 31 2009

Let your mind relax and recharge.

If you've gone green, I'll wager that you are pretty smart already. I'm not just saying that to win you over either. The climate crisis may be the greatest crisis the human species will ever have to deal with. If you are worried about global warming, then you must have some degree of foresight. And foresight is a sure sign of intelligence.

One popular green activity, the nature walk, can do more than strengthen those calf muscles. It can also nourish the old brain bin. You were going to take a walk anyway? I said that you were smart, remember?

According to researchers at the University of Michigan, taking a nature walk can sharpen the mind, but a walk around the city does not have the same effect.

How Nature Walks Make You Smarter
Participants were asked to go for walks in urban and rural settings. When the participants returned from their respective journeys, their memories and attentions were tested. Those who returned from nature walks scored 20% better on the tests. They showed no improvement after urban walks.

Walking in nature allows the mind to take a break. Think of it in terms of sleeping. If you take a nap, your body functions better with some sleep. A nature walk allows your mind to wander, to relax. Afterward, you can think more clearly.

Researcher Marc Berman:

You don't hear very many people say, 'Boy I really got tired out looking at that waterfall.'

People who walk in cities get very little mental relaxation. Their mind stays in work mode, because they don’t want to get hit by cars or bump the arm of a rough customer.

So take a walk in nature when you have the chance. More importantly, preserve nature so we have something to walk around in when we need a break. That's the smartest thing of all.

Source: ScienCentral

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/nature-walks-smarter.html