How Nature & Other Physical Environments Impact Your Focus, Cognition & Health | Dr. Marc Berman

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Jul 14, 2025

Dr. Marc Berman, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, discusses the profound effects of natural environments on cognitive function and mental health. He reveals how even brief moments in nature can restore focus and reduce mental fatigue. Berman emphasizes the importance of incorporating natural elements into daily routines to combat attention depletion. He also explores the negative impact of digital distractions on cognition and provides practical strategies for enhancing productivity through nature immersion.

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00:00 / 00:00

Directed vs Involuntary Attention

Directed attention is the ability to focus deliberately, which gets depleted when used extensively.
Involuntary attention is captured automatically by interesting stimuli and is less tiring to the brain.

00:00 / 00:00

Nature Walks Boost Working Memory

In a controlled study, participants' working memory improved 20% after a 50-minute walk in nature versus an urban walk.
The benefit was present even on cold days when participants disliked the walk, showing effects beyond just mood improvement.

00:00 / 00:00

Nature's Fractal Ease of Processing

Nature scenes are more compressible due to repeated fractal patterns, making them easier for the brain to process.
Urban scenes are semantically more complex, requiring more cognitive resources to encode and recall.

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My guest is Dr. Marc Berman, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago whose research explores how different physical environments—particularly nature and patterns found in nature—can positively impact our ability to focus, our cognitive performance and our mental and physical health. We discuss how our physical environment influences our attention, stress levels and brain and heart health. He explains how even brief periods in nature and exposure to natural images and sounds can restore and improve attentional capacity, reduce mental fatigue and help combat rumination and depression. Whether you live in a city, suburb or rural area, this episode offers simple science-backed strategies for incorporating nature and natural elements into your daily life to positively transform your cognitive ability and mental and physical health.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

00:00:00 Marc Berman

00:02:14 Direct vs Involuntary Attention, Mental Fatigue, Attention Restoration Theory

00:06:59 Attention Fatigue, Focus & Vision, Tool: Restoring Attention in Nature

00:11:26 Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp

00:13:50 Focused Work, Tool: Pre-Work Nature Breaks to Enhance Focus

00:15:54 Nature Walks & Cognitive Benefits, Comparing Nature vs Urban Environments

00:21:31 Nature, “Softly Fascinating Stimulation”, Fractals

00:27:12 Nature Images & Sounds, Cognitive Benefits

00:30:03 Urban vs Nature Images, Complexity & Image Compression; Semantics

00:40:44 Time Perception & Nature; Art Galleries

00:45:32 Tools: Resetting Attention & Nature Break; Features of a Restorative Nature Environments vs Focused Workspace; Length of Time in Nature

00:52:47 Sponsors: AG1 & Our Place

00:55:59 Nature, Time & Widening Attention; Fractals & Nature

01:02:21 Nature vs Urban Environments & Brain, Social Media & Attention

01:09:44 Depression & Rumination, Mental Well-Being, Attention & Nature

01:14:56 Sleep vs Wakefulness; Protecting Attention, Social Media

01:24:44 Sponsor: LMNT

01:26:19 Impulsivity, Texting & Attention, Meditation vs Nature Restoration

01:33:10 Passive Restorative vs Passive Depleting Activities, “Mental Obesity”, Shrinking Attention Span

01:37:31 Kids, Phones, Tool: Nature Free Play; Social Happy Hour, Tool: Solitary Nature Breaks

01:45:30 Physical Health Benefits of Nature, Trees & Indoor Greenery; Aquariums

01:53:26 Thoughts, Feelings & Physical Spaces, Biophilic Design, Bringing Nature Indoors

02:01:03 Nature Breaks, Incorporating Nature into Schools, Work, Home & Cities; Forest Bathing

02:09:18 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

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