Factoid Friday: Urban parks are making you smarter
While urban dwelling certainly has its perks, the constant hustle and bustle of city life can serve as exhausting stimuli for our brains. Factors such as noise, traffic, densely situated buildings and a consistently high volume of people all expend a significant amount of our direct attention and energy.
Studies suggest that urban parks can actually counteract the cognitive strains caused by city life. This is because nature based settings utilize an indirect form of our attention, which allows our brains the opportunity to refresh themselves – much in the same manner as a nap would. When your brain is rested and refreshed, your overall cognitive performance is maximized.
Thus, it seems that urban parks are more than just a mere amenity – they are an integral factor in enhancing our mental capacity and overall quality of life.
