Speaking of Psychology Why nature is good for your brain, with Marc Berman, PhD
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Dec 3, 2025 
Marc Berman, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago, explores how nature enhances our mental well-being. He discusses Attention Restoration Theory and the benefits of 'soft fascination' that nature provides. Even dreary weather walks can boost focus and memory! Berman highlights the cognitive gains from exposure to green and blue spaces and the importance of unplugging to fully engage with the environment. He advocates for biophilic designs in urban planning to bring more nature into our lives, improving our mood and cognitive performance.
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Nature Restores Focus
- Nature restores directed attention by engaging involuntary attention without demanding focus.
- Participants improved ~20% on a difficult memory task after a 50-minute nature walk but not after an urban walk.
Soft Fascination Theory
- Attention Restoration Theory distinguishes directed attention (fatigable) from involuntary attention (less depleting).
- Soft fascination in natural settings captures involuntary attention gently, allowing directed attention to replenish.
Multisensory Nature Benefits
- Benefits of nature are multimodal: visual, auditory, tactile, and possibly olfactory.
- Pictures or sounds of nature give weaker benefits than real nature but still help when access is limited.
