Brain functional connectivity differs when viewing pictures from natural and built environments using fMRI resting state analysis.

ABSTRACT: Human beings evolved in "natural" environments. Many intervention studies have shown that exposure to natural environments (compared to built/urban environments) reduces stress and increases cognitive functioning. We set out to test differences in fMRI functional connectivity while showing participants photographs from natural versus built environments (matched in terms of scenicness ratings). No differences in self-reported perceived stress, rumination, valence, arousal or dominance were observed. However, functional connectivity was significantly higher when participants saw natural rather than built environmental photographs in circuits consisting of dorsal attention network (DAN) and ventral attention network (VAN), DAN and default mode network (DMN) and DMN and Somatomotor connections

SUBMITTER: Kuhn S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7893012 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature