Brain functional connectivity differs when viewing pictures from natural and built environments using fMRI resting state analysis

Simone Kühn; Caroline Garcia Forlim; Anja Lender; Janina Wirtz; Jürgen Gallinat

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-83246-5

journal article Open Access Feb 18, 2021

Brain functional connectivity differs when viewing pictures from natural and built environments using fMRI resting state analysis

Simone Kühn

Caroline Garcia Forlim Anja Lender Janina Wirtz Jürgen Gallinat

Scientific Reports Vol. 11 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1038/s41598-021-83246-5

Abstract

AbstractHuman beings evolved in “natural” environments. Many intervention studies have shown that exposure to natural environments (compared to built/urban environments) reduces stress and increases cognitive functioning. We set out to test differences in fMRI functional connectivity while showing participants photographs from natural versus built environments (matched in terms of scenicness ratings). No differences in self-reported perceived stress, rumination, valence, arousal or dominance were observed. However, functional connectivity was significantly higher when participants saw natural rather than built environmental photographs in circuits consisting of dorsal attention network (DAN) and ventral attention network (VAN), DAN and default mode network (DMN) and DMN and Somatomotor connections. In addition, we observed lower functional connectivity during the natural environment condition correlated with more years that individuals spent in major cities during upbringing. Future studies, linking changes in cognitive functioning due to nature exposure and alterations in functional connectivity, are warranted.

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Details

Published: Feb 18, 2021
Vol/Issue: 11(1)
License: View

Authors

S

Simone Kühn

C

Caroline Garcia Forlim

Funding

European Union Award: ERC-2016-StG-Self-Control-677804

Projekt DEAL

German Science Foundation Award: SFB 936/C7

Cite This Article

Simone Kühn, Caroline Garcia Forlim, Anja Lender, et al. (2021). Brain functional connectivity differs when viewing pictures from natural and built environments using fMRI resting state analysis. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83246-5

Brain functional connectivity differs when viewing pictures from natural and built environments using fMRI resting state analysis

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