The gentle babble of a stream or the sound of the wind through the trees can physically change our mind and body systems, helping us relax. New research explains how for the first time.
Researchers from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) found that playing ‘natural sounds’ affected the body systems that control the flight-or-startle and rest-digestion autonomic nervous systems, with associated effects on the brain’s resting activity. Although naturalistic sounds and ‘green’ environments are often associated with promoting relaxation and well-being, there is as yet no scientific consensus on how these effects are achieved. The research has been published in Scientific Reports.
Researchers found that being in nature reduces feelings of isolation, promotes calmness and improves mood in patients.
The lead author, Dr Cassandra Gould from Prague, said: “We’re all familiar with the feeling of relaxation and ‘switching off’ that comes from a walk in the countryside, and now we have evidence from the brain and body that helps us understand this effect. This has been an exciting collaboration between artists and scientists, and it has produced results that can have a real impact, especially for people experiencing high levels of stress.”
Working with audiovisual artist Mark Ware, the team at BSMS conducted an experiment in which participants listened to sounds recorded from natural and artificial environments, while their brain activity was measured in an MRI scanner and their autonomic nervous system activity was monitored through minute changes. in terms of heart rate. The team found that activity in the brain’s default mode network (a collection of areas that are active when we rest) was different depending on the sounds playing in the background:
When listening to natural sounds, brain connectivity reflected outward attention; when listening to artificial sounds, brain connectivity reflected an inward focus of attention, similar to states observed in anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. There was also an increase in rest-dissolving nervous system activity (associated with relaxation of the body) when listening to natural sounds compared to artificial sounds, and better performance on an external attention monitoring task.
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Interestingly, the degree of change in nervous system activity depended on the baseline state of the participants: individuals who showed signs of the greatest stress before starting the experiment showed the greatest physical relaxation when listening to natural sounds, while those who were already relaxed in the The brain scanner environment showed a slight increase in stress when listening to natural sounds compared to artificial sounds.
The study of the effects of environmental exposure is of growing importance in physical and mental health care and has a major impact on public health and urban planning issues. This study is the first to present an integrated behavioral, physiological, and brain exploration of this topic.
Artist Mark Ware commented: “Collaborations between art and science can be problematic, often due to a lack of shared knowledge and language (scientific and artistic), but the team at BSMS have generously sought common ground, which has resulted in this exciting and successful outcome. . We have plans to continue working together and I would like to explore how the results of this work can be applied to the creation and understanding of time-based art (installations, multimedia performances and film) for the benefit of people in the field of wellness and well-being. health.”
Story source: Material provided by the University of Sussex.