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Some people are more sensitive to the environment than others. Recent research shows that individuals who are highly sensitive benefit greatly from time in nature. But how can nature help regulate a highly sensitive brain?
Sensory Processing Sensititvity
There are a number of things that can make some people more sensitive to the environment than others, including genetics and temperament. Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a temperamental trait characterised by a heightened awareness of, and reaction to, physical and social environments. People high in SPS process information at a deep cognitive level, notice details that others may overlook, and have intense emotional reactions. This trait is found in approximately 1 in 4 people and can be measured by a questionnaire. People high in SPS are more impacted by both positive and negative environments. For instance, they are better able to apply knowledge in new situations but are more likely to experience poorer mental health in unsupportive environments. They may also find certain environments overwhelming and can become overstimulated at lower sensory levels than others. Research shows that spending time outdoors can help to reduce excess stimulation.
The benefits of connecting with nature
Spending time in nature offers many benefits for both mental and physical health and well-being such as reducing stress, improved mood, and enhanced cognitive function. The tranquillity of green spaces provides a break from the fast-paced, often overwhelming demands of daily life, allowing for relaxation and mental rejuvenation. Time in nature also supports physical health by encouraging active outdoor pastimes and can lead to feelings of awe. Awe is an intense emotional response that creates a profound sense of wonder and can be inspired by many things including natural wonders such as mountains, the ocean, and the night sky – and in response to music, art and exceptional human achievements. Awe often leads to feelings of smallness, along with a heightened awareness of beauty, complexity, or mystery of the universe. Research has also found that experiencing awe decreases activation in the Default Mode Network which is the brain network that we activate when we are not focussing on anything in particular, such as daydreaming, planning, and ruminating. So, reducing activation in the Default Mode Network can help to guard against unhelpful rumination.
Why people with high sensitivity particularly benefit from being in nature
High sensitivity people show more activation in the Default Mode Network and can be prone to rumination, so time in nature, and even watching videos of nature, can help to reduce the activity in the Default Mode Network, thus reducing negative thinking cycles. Also, sensitive people often find aspects of indoor environments, such as schools, shopping malls, and offices overstimulating – for example because of excessive lighting and noise, crowded spaces, chaotic environments, and the presence of environmental pollutants. The natural world provides stimulation at much lower levels, and time in nature can help to calm an overstimulated nervous system. A recent study found that people who score high for SPS believe that time in nature is important for recuperation, contemplation, reflection, putting themselves in perspective, and feeling at one with the natural world.
Spending time in nature is an easy and accessible way to promote physical and mental health and well-being for everyone, particularly for high sensitivity people who can get overstimulated by aspects of the physical and social environments.
Credits
Author: Kaaryn Cater
Buddy: Helena Olraun
Editor: Siddharth Chaturvedi
Translation: Hilde Althof
Editor translation: Maartje Koot
