Three Key Insights on How Being in Nature Changes the Brain
A new scoping review explored how nature changes the brain.
Posted May 1, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
Nature heals the soul, but what does it do to the brain?
Have you ever been on a camping or hiking trip to a national park and felt much happier and more relaxed than at home or at work? You would not be alone with this experience. Over the last few decades, many studies have shown that spending time in nature can have myriad positive effects on psychological well-being, such as reducing stress , as well as increasing relaxation and happiness .
What is much less understood, however, is how nature has these positive effects on us. One important step in this context would be understanding how being in nature affects the brain, since the brain is the organ relevant for processing negative and positive emotions. In recent years, several psychological studies have been published on the effects of nature on the brain, but so far, their findings have not been synthesized to show the most relevant key effects.
A new scoping review on the effects of nature on the human brain
A recent paper published in the academic journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews has now systematically integrated the findings from biopsychological studies on the effects of nature on the brain ( Baquedano and co-workers, 2026 ). In the article, “Your brain on nature: A scoping review of the neuroscience of nature exposure,” the research team led by scientist Constanza Baquedano from the School of Psychology at Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, in Chile, performed a scoping review. A scoping review is a type of literature synthesis in which psychological studies from a broad range of different methods are integrated to answer important questions in psychological research.
In the scoping review, the authors integrated findings from studies using different neuroimaging methods to assess the effects of nature on the brain. The neuroimaging methods included in the study were:
Overall, findings from 108 different studies were integrated in the scoping review. Here are the three main insights from this work:
Insight 1: Being in nature reduces activity in the stress networks of the brain
FMRI studies showed that being in nature reduced activity in the amygdala, a core structure in the brain’s stress networks.
Insight 2: Being in nature restores inward-focused attention and increases positive emotion
EEG studies showed that being in nature shifted electric brain activity with an increase in alpha and theta brain waves. These brain waves are usually associated with being relaxed and inward-focused attention . Being in nature also decreased beta waves, which are associated with cognitive load. Moreover, connectivity analysis of EEG patterns showed an increase in networks relevant for positive emotions and cognitive control.
Insight 3: Being in nature changes the structure of the brain in a beneficial way
Living or regularly being in nature is associated with increased volumes of both grey and white matter in the brain. The observed brain features associated with nature exposure were associated with higher intelligence and fewer attention problems.
Taken together, the findings from the 108 scientific studies that informed the scoping review show a very clear picture: Being in nature is great for brain health. The next time you are in doubt, whether you should go on that hike or camping trip: Do it!
Your brain will thank you!
Facebook image: PeopleImages/Shutterstock
Baquedano, C., Olguí, A., Contreras-Huerta, L. S., Rosas, F. E., & Estarellas, M. (2026). Your brain on nature: A scoping review of the neuroscience of nature exposure. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews , 183 , 106565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106565
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Sebastian Ocklenburg, Ph.D., is a professor for research methods in psychology at the Department of Psychology at MSH Medical School in Hamburg, Germany. His research focuses on left-handedness and brain asymmetries.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.