Dheeksha Mahesh@NFC
Planning to take a break this summer? Want to travel to places with children that allows you to de-stress? Then, better choose places with forest cover than water bodies or resorts and spas closer to urban areas.
According to a study led by Berlin’s Max Planck Institute for Human Development, reveals a significant positive association between the coverage of forest and amygdala integrity. Amygdala plays a primary role in the processing of memory, decision–making and emotional responses.
The study aimed to identify geographical characteristics (forest, urban green, water and wasteland) that affects the human brain. The results reveal a significant positive association between the forest coverage and amygdala integrity. The study concludes that forests have positive effects on the amygdala activity and promotes human well-being. Being in forest reduces the amygdala activity when compared to being in urban set up, which helps to reduce stress, anxiety and calms the mind.
The study used structural equation modelling on 341 older adults to establish three latent brain factors (amygdala, perigenual anterior cingular cortex(pACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)) to test the effects of forest, urban green, water and wasteland around the home address.
In Japan forest therapy was developed in 1980s and now its become a cornerstone in healthcare. Known as Shinrin-yoku, which means “taking in the forest atmosphere” or “forest bathing”, studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of passive viewing and active exploration of forest landscapes on stress levels.
Facts:
Western Ghats, a must travel place to de-stress. In Karnataka, the amazing Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world.
Difference between sea and an ocean: Seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and ocean meet. Typically, seas are partially enclosed by land.
Difference between sea and beach: Sea is a massive salt water body but beach is a landform created by sea and its wave action… beach is area which denotes the transaction between land and sea.
