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How Nature Heals Us

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

How Nature Heals Us

Hidden Brain

Nov 03
Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain

Nov 03
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

We've known intuitively for centuries that spending time in nature can give us a boost. But it’s only recently that scientists have begun to identify exactly what it is about the outdoors that has such a powerful effect on our mood and our minds. This week...

Highlights

From bustling cities to quiet forests, the environments we inhabit shape our minds in profound ways. While modern life often pulls us indoors and into digital spaces, there’s growing evidence that nature offers something essential for our mental well-being—something science is only beginning to fully understand.
00:00
Nature offers a cost-free remedy for mental health with no side effects.
19:02
Patients with nature views recovered faster after surgery
22:19
Patients with nature views used less pain medication after surgery
33:33
A nature walk improved cognitive performance by 20% in a backwards digit span task
36:51
Nature walks improve cognitive performance by about 20%, even without enjoyment.
46:20
Listening to nature sounds can improve cognitive task performance as much as walking in nature.
47:08
Nature walks are prescribed in some countries as supplemental therapy for depression and anxiety
1:01:16
The Retune app guides users to walking routes with the most nature exposure for cognitive benefits

Chapters

Can Nature Heal the Mind?
00:00
How a Simple View Changed Patient Recovery
14:57
Why Hospitals Need Trees, Not Just Walls
22:19
What Happens to Your Brain in the Woods?
26:09
A Walk in the Park That Boosts Your Memory
36:51
Why Scrolling Feels Restful But Isn’t
43:38
The Sound of Calm: How Nature Listens Back
47:08
Bringing the Forest Inside
54:40
Can Cities Be Designed to Make Us Smarter?
1:05:28

Transcript

Shankar Vedantam: Feeling a little frazzled as 2025 comes to a close? Put your to-do list on pause and join me for an evening of science, storytelling, and connection. I'm bringing Hidden Brain's Perceptions Tour to the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles on No...