Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study
IntroductionDespite the well-established evidence supporting the restorative potential of nature exposure, the neurophysiological underpinnings of the restorative cognitive/emotional effect of nature are not yet fully understood. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the associati...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1171215/full |
| _version_ | 1797843504372645888 |
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| author | Claudio Imperatori Chiara Massullo Elena De Rossi Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Annalisa Theodorou Massimiliano Scopelliti Luciano Romano Claudia Del Gatto Giorgia Allegrini Giuseppe Carrus Angelo Panno |
| author_facet | Claudio Imperatori Chiara Massullo Elena De Rossi Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Annalisa Theodorou Massimiliano Scopelliti Luciano Romano Claudia Del Gatto Giorgia Allegrini Giuseppe Carrus Angelo Panno |
| author_sort | Claudio Imperatori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDespite the well-established evidence supporting the restorative potential of nature exposure, the neurophysiological underpinnings of the restorative cognitive/emotional effect of nature are not yet fully understood. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between exposure to nature and electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity in the distress network.MethodsFifty-three individuals (11 men and 42 women; mean age 21.38 ± 1.54 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: (i) a green group and (ii) a gray group. A slideshow consisting of images depicting natural and urban scenarios were, respectively, presented to the green and the gray group. Before and after the slideshow, 5 min resting state (RS) EEG recordings were performed. The exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) software was used to execute all EEG analyses.ResultsCompared to the gray group, the green group showed a significant increase in positive emotions (F1; 50 = 9.50 p = 0.003) and in the subjective experience of being full of energy and alive (F1; 50 = 4.72 p = 0.035). Furthermore, as compared to urban pictures, the exposure to natural images was associated with a decrease of delta functional connectivity in the distress network, specifically between the left insula and left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (T = −3.70, p = 0.023).DiscussionOur results would seem to be in accordance with previous neurophysiological studies suggesting that experiencing natural environments is associated with brain functional dynamics linked to emotional restorative processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:07:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57786ce2bcfd4b7fbea506582cafe4f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:07:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-57786ce2bcfd4b7fbea506582cafe4f82023-04-20T12:08:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-04-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11712151171215Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG studyClaudio Imperatori0Chiara Massullo1Elena De Rossi2Giuseppe Alessio Carbone3Giuseppe Alessio Carbone4Annalisa Theodorou5Massimiliano Scopelliti6Luciano Romano7Claudia Del Gatto8Giorgia Allegrini9Giuseppe Carrus10Angelo Panno11Cognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyExperimental Psychology Laboratory, Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyExperimental Psychology Laboratory, Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Studies, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA), Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyExperimental Psychology Laboratory, Department of Education, Roma Tre University, Rome, ItalyCognitive and Clinical Psychology Laboratory, Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, ItalyIntroductionDespite the well-established evidence supporting the restorative potential of nature exposure, the neurophysiological underpinnings of the restorative cognitive/emotional effect of nature are not yet fully understood. The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between exposure to nature and electroencephalography (EEG) functional connectivity in the distress network.MethodsFifty-three individuals (11 men and 42 women; mean age 21.38 ± 1.54 years) were randomly assigned to two groups: (i) a green group and (ii) a gray group. A slideshow consisting of images depicting natural and urban scenarios were, respectively, presented to the green and the gray group. Before and after the slideshow, 5 min resting state (RS) EEG recordings were performed. The exact low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) software was used to execute all EEG analyses.ResultsCompared to the gray group, the green group showed a significant increase in positive emotions (F1; 50 = 9.50 p = 0.003) and in the subjective experience of being full of energy and alive (F1; 50 = 4.72 p = 0.035). Furthermore, as compared to urban pictures, the exposure to natural images was associated with a decrease of delta functional connectivity in the distress network, specifically between the left insula and left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (T = −3.70, p = 0.023).DiscussionOur results would seem to be in accordance with previous neurophysiological studies suggesting that experiencing natural environments is associated with brain functional dynamics linked to emotional restorative processes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1171215/fullnature exposurecontact with naturerestorativenesssimulated natureEEGfunctional connectivity |
| spellingShingle | Claudio Imperatori Chiara Massullo Elena De Rossi Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Giuseppe Alessio Carbone Annalisa Theodorou Massimiliano Scopelliti Luciano Romano Claudia Del Gatto Giorgia Allegrini Giuseppe Carrus Angelo Panno Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study Frontiers in Psychology nature exposure contact with nature restorativeness simulated nature EEG functional connectivity |
| title | Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study |
| title_full | Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study |
| title_fullStr | Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study |
| title_short | Exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network: A resting state EEG study |
| title_sort | exposure to nature is associated with decreased functional connectivity within the distress network a resting state eeg study |
| topic | nature exposure contact with nature restorativeness simulated nature EEG functional connectivity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1171215/full |
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