How Nature & Other Physical Environments Impact Your Focus, Cognition & Health | Dr. Marc Berman
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.Thank you to our sponsorsAG1: https://drinkag1.com/hubermanHelix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/hubermanBetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/hubermanOur Place: https://fromourplace.com/hubermanLMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanTimestamps00:00:00 Marc Berman00:02:14 Direct vs Involuntary Attention, Mental Fatigue, Attention Restoration Theory00:06:59 Attention Fatigue, Focus & Vision, Tool: Restoring Attention in Nature00:11:26 Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp00:13:50 Focused Work, Tool: Pre-Work Nature Breaks to Enhance Focus 00:15:54 Nature Walks & Cognitive Benefits, Comparing Nature vs Urban Environments00:21:31 Nature, “Softly Fascinating Stimulation”, Fractals00:27:12 Nature Images & Sounds, Cognitive Benefits00:30:03 Urban vs Nature Images, Complexity & Image Compression; Semantics00:40:44 Time Perception & Nature; Art Galleries00:45:32 Tools: Resetting Attention & Nature Break; Features of a Restorative Nature Environments vs Focused Workspace; Length of Time in Nature00:52:47 Sponsors: AG1 & Our Place00:55:59 Nature, Time & Widening Attention; Fractals & Nature01:02:21 Nature vs Urban Environments & Brain, Social Media & Attention01:09:44 Depression & Rumination, Mental Well-Being, Attention & Nature 01:14:56 Sleep vs Wakefulness; Protecting Attention, Social Media01:24:44 Sponsor: LMNT01:26:19 Impulsivity, Texting & Attention, Meditation vs Nature Restoration01:33:10 Passive Restorative vs Passive Depleting Activities, “Mental Obesity”, Shrinking Attention Span01:37:31 Kids, Phones, Tool: Nature Free Play; Social Happy Hour, Tool: Solitary Nature Breaks01:45:30 Physical Health Benefits of Nature, Trees & Indoor Greenery; Aquariums01:53:26 Thoughts, Feelings & Physical Spaces, Biophilic Design, Bringing Nature Indoors02:01:03 Nature Breaks, Incorporating Nature into Schools, Work, Home & Cities; Forest Bathing02:09:18 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimer & DisclosuresLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Huberman Lab
The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. The podcast discusses neuroscience and science-based tools, including how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health, as well as existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works.
Huberman has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function, and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills, and cognitive functioning. He is a McKnight Foundation and Pew Foundation Fellow and was awarded the Cogan Award, given to the scientist making the most significant discoveries in the study of vision, in 2017.
Work from the Huberman Laboratory at Stanford School of Medicine has been published in top journals, including Nature, Science, and Cell, and has been featured in TIME, BBC, Scientific American, Discover, and other top media outlets.
In 2021, Dr. Huberman launched the Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast is frequently ranked in the top 10 of all podcasts globally and is often ranked #1 in the categories of Science, Education, and Health & Fitness.
- No. of episodes: 321
- Latest episode: 2025-07-24
- Health & Fitness Science Life Sciences
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