Attention restoration theory proposes that attention spans are a limited resource that can be recharged by exposure to nature. Research indicates that brief walks in natural settings can produce immediate improvements in attention and memory. A 2008 experiment found nearly 20 percent score improvements when students walked among trees compared with urban street walks. Benefits can occur even without conscious enjoyment of the experience. Researchers acknowledge accumulating evidence for nature’s cognitive benefits while remaining uncertain about the precise mechanisms behind the effect. The theory originated with Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in the 1980s.
"Go outside" or "touch grass" are common rejoinders deployed in online arguments these days. And, at least for those of us whose brains have probably melted from spending too much time on an app where said arguments take place, it turns out it's pretty sound advice. As the , there's a growing body of evidence suggesting that simply spending time in nature can instantly boost your algorithm-addled brain's attention span.
In a 2008 experiment with several dozen University of Michigan students, half were made to take a walk through an arboretum, a type of park or garden dedicated to trees. The other half took a walk through the local city streets. Later, the groups traded places. Attention and memory tests administered before and after their brief excursions showed that when students ambled among the trees, their scores surged by nearly 20 percent.
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