Why being near trees makes you feel calmer and focus better
From Forest to Focus: The Interactive Effects of Nature Exposure and Nature Relatedness on Attention, Brain Activity, Heart Rate Variability, and Mood.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
People who looked at pictures of forests felt calmer and focused better than those who looked at city pictures, but even city pictures made them a little calmer. People who already loved nature felt the best benefits.
Surprising Findings
Urban images increased alpha power just as much as nature images, meaning city scenes can induce relaxation too.
Most people assume only nature calms the brain—this shows urban environments have a similar, universal relaxing effect.
Practical Takeaways
Take a 2-minute break to look at nature images if you need to focus, or city scenes if you just need to unwind.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
People who looked at pictures of forests felt calmer and focused better than those who looked at city pictures, but even city pictures made them a little calmer. People who already loved nature felt the best benefits.
Surprising Findings
Urban images increased alpha power just as much as nature images, meaning city scenes can induce relaxation too.
Most people assume only nature calms the brain—this shows urban environments have a similar, universal relaxing effect.
Practical Takeaways
Take a 2-minute break to look at nature images if you need to focus, or city scenes if you just need to unwind.
Publication
Journal
Journal of cognitive neuroscience
Year
2025
Authors
Cameron N. Bell, Rebecca St George, Cynthia Honan, Allison J. Matthews
Related Content
Claims (4)
Being around trees can make people feel happier or less stressed.
Looking at pictures of nature instead of city scenes might help your brain ignore distractions better, and this shows up as a weaker brain signal when you're trying to focus.
People who feel more connected to nature tend to feel happier, think faster, and show more calming brain activity after spending time outdoors than people who don’t feel as connected to nature.
Looking at pictures of nature or city scenes can both make your brain relax in the same way—so nature isn’t special for this effect.