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What do you feel when you look at the two images abo

We all have different p

In 1989 two professors (Stephen and Rachel Kaplan) from the University of Michigan published some very influential work regarding the influence of nature on our health and wellbeing. A part of this research was the proposition of the Attention Restoration Theory known as the ART (Kaplan et al. 1989). The ART has become the most accepted understanding on the benefits of nature on human health and wellbeing. At the basis of the ART is the distinction between directed attention and fascination.  Directed attention is used when we do activities that require intense concentration like driving a vehicle, engaging in conversations, studying, problem solving and even watching a movie or TV show where we need to follow the story or the plot. Our brain has limited capacity to engage in this directed attention which requires our brain to block out all other distractions. When this inhibitory system is overworked, we experience mental fatigue which results in reduced cognitive and emotional function, poor attention and reduced mental health and wellbeing.  The good news is that there are also restorative processes for our brain. Research suggests that brain restorative experiences may be associated with the production of alpha and theta brainwaves (the same as those experienced during music therapy and restorative meditation).These brain waves are associated with our engagement in fascination and in particular soft fascination.

Soft fascination is often achieved when viewing nature, like the image on the left hand side.