Hiking In Nature Does Fascinating Things To The Brain

You do not have to be an expert to know that connecting with nature is a great way to calm our stressed minds. You do not need sophisticated scientific devices to prove it. All it takes is hiking in some green areas and you immediately feel the renewal. You feel more energetic and mentally lighter. You register it immediately.

Walking through places where nature reigns fills us with oxygen. If we breathe better and breathe cleaner air, our brain also works better. The body, and of course the brain, is nourished by the pristine oxygen you find in the forest.

“The mountain path, like the one in life, is not traveled with the legs, but with the heart”.
-Andrés Nadal-

Plus, exercise in itself gets your circulation going and thus strengthens all the organs in your body. It has been proven that physical activity creates positive changes in the brain. It increases the production of certain beneficial hormones and inhibits the secretion of the so-called “stress hormone”.

The topic is so fascinating that experts have experimented to see how far the benefits of hiking go. In particular , they studied some of the brain changes that occur when someone goes hiking. The results have been surprising.

Hiking and changes in the brain

The National Academy of Sciences conducted a study of brain changes that occur when a person wanders. First, they did a survey. They interviewed people who had recently experienced hiking in nature. They then compared the results with those of other people who had taken walks in the city. The result was that the first said they felt calm, while in the second group there was a wider range of responses.

Later, the researchers monitored the brain changes that had occurred among the individuals. They were able to verify that there was a decrease in blood flow in the subgenual prefrontal cortex of the brain  after experiencing migration.

This, translated into practical terms, has several meanings. Most importantly, the biggest change in an area is related to mood. In particular, this area of ​​the cortex regulates mood and feelings of worry and sadness. All indications are that walking slows down the activation of this area, reducing the irritation or sadness our brains would otherwise “fight”.

In another study, a similar conclusion was reached. In this case, they examined the brain changes that occurred in humans that went through a landscape environment for four days. These people were completely disconnected from technological devices. After that, they all took a test in intellectual abilities . The result was that everyone got 50% more points than those who did not hike. Their creative potential was the particularly affected area.

Other benefits of hiking

The brain changes above are not the only ones seen in people who wander. In 2004, a study was conducted with people suffering from so-called “attention deficit”. A group of them were asked to go hiking. After that, it was found that the symptoms of the disorder decreased in intensity and frequency.

Something similar happened to a group of people suffering from dementia. Trips through green areas and hills, which require more effort, had a remarkable impact on their memory. Everything seems to indicate that hiking has the ability to improve our ability to concentrate and retain information. In short, all intellectual functions are enhanced with a simple hike.

But that’s not all. Hiking also positively affects our emotional states. An article in the Journal of Environmental Science and Technology showed that just a five minute walk in a natural environment has powerful effects on our emotions.

The short time is all that is required to see changes in self-perception and self-esteem. Those who take on this type of hiking regularly have greater self-confidence and more self-control.

The best part is that you need almost nothing to start hiking. All you need is adequate clothing and water. In addition to triggering positive changes in your brain, it will also improve your overall health. And if you go hiking with friends, it’s even better. It is an easy and fast way to significantly improve your quality of life.