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Sudimac S, Kühn S. Can a nature walk change your brain? Investigating hippocampal brain plasticity after one hour in a forest. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 262:119813. [PMID: 39155041 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
In cities, the incidence of mental disorders is higher, while visits to nature have been reported to benefit mental health and brain function. However, there is a lack of knowledge about how exposure to natural and urban environments affects brain structure. To explore the causal relationship between exposure to these environments and the hippocampal formation, 60 participants were sent on a one hour walk in either a natural (forest) or an urban environment (busy street), and high-resolution hippocampal imaging was performed before and after the walks. We found that the participants who walked in the forest had an increase in subiculum volume, a hippocampal subfield involved in stress response inhibition, while no change was observed after the urban walk. However, this result did not withstand Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, the increase in subiculum volume after the forest walk was associated with a decrease in self-reported rumination. These results indicate that visits to nature can lead to observable alterations in brain structure, with potential benefits for mental health and implications for public health and urban planning policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Sudimac
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Environmental Neuroscience, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Simone Kühn
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Environmental Neuroscience, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Martinistr. 52, 20251, Hamburg, Germany; Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research Berlin, Germany and London, UK, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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Polemiti E, Hese S, Schepanski K, Yuan J, Schumann G. How does the macroenvironment influence brain and behaviour-a review of current status and future perspectives. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02557-x. [PMID: 38658771 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02557-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The environment influences brain and mental health, both detrimentally and beneficially. Existing research has emphasised the individual psychosocial 'microenvironment'. Less attention has been paid to 'macroenvironmental' challenges, including climate change, pollution, urbanicity, and socioeconomic disparity. Notably, the implications of climate and pollution on brain and mental health have only recently gained prominence. With the advent of large-scale big-data cohorts and an increasingly dense mapping of macroenvironmental parameters, we are now in a position to characterise the relation between macroenvironment, brain, and behaviour across different geographic and cultural locations globally. This review synthesises findings from recent epidemiological and neuroimaging studies, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence between the macroenvironment and the structure and functions of the brain, with a particular emphasis on its implications for mental illness. We discuss putative underlying mechanisms and address the most common exposures of the macroenvironment. Finally, we identify critical areas for future research to enhance our understanding of the aetiology of mental illness and to inform effective interventions for healthier environments and mental health promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Polemiti
- Centre of Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience CCM, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sören Hese
- Institute of Geography, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Jiacan Yuan
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences & CMA-FDU Joint Laboratory of Marine Meteorology & IRDR-ICOE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre of Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience CCM, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Chen J, Chen X, Gong L, Zhang D, Liu Q. Behind the wheel: exploring gray matter variations in experienced drivers. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17228. [PMID: 38618564 PMCID: PMC11015830 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Driving is a complex skill involving various cognitive activities. Previous research has explored differences in the brain structures related to the navigational abilities of drivers compared to non-drivers. However, it remains unclear whether changes occur in the structures associated with low-level sensory and higher-order cognitive abilities in drivers. Methods Gray matter volume, assessed via voxel-based morphometry analysis of T1-weighted images, is considered a reliable indicator of structural changes in the brain. This study employs voxel-based morphological analysis to investigate structural differences between drivers (n = 22) and non-drivers (n = 20). Results The results indicate that, in comparison to non-drivers, drivers exhibit significantly reduced gray matter volume in the middle occipital gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, supramarginal gyrus, and cerebellum, suggesting a relationship with driving-related experience. Furthermore, the volume of the middle occipital gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus, is found to be marginally negative related to the years of driving experience, suggesting a potential impact of driving experience on gray matter volume. However, no significant correlations were observed between driving experiences and frontal gray matter volume. Conclusion These findings suggest that driving skills and experience have a pronounced impact on the cortical areas responsible for low-level sensory and motor processing. Meanwhile, the influence on cortical areas associated with higher-order cognitive function appears to be minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Chen
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Li Gong
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Di Zhang
- School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Research Center of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Institute of Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Polemiti E, Hese S, Schepanski K, Yuan J, Schumann G. How does the macroenvironment influence brain and behaviour - a review of current status and future perspectives. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.10.09.23296785. [PMID: 37873310 PMCID: PMC10593044 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.09.23296785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
The environment influences mental health, both detrimentally and beneficially. Current research has emphasized the individual psychosocial 'microenvironment'. Less attention has been paid to 'macro-environmental' challenges including climate change, pollution, urbanicity and socioeconomic disparity. With the advent of large-scale big-data cohorts and an increasingly dense mapping of macroenvironmental parameters, we are now in a position to characterise the relation between macroenvironment, brain, and behaviour across different geographic and cultural locations globally. This review synthesises findings from recent epidemiological and neuroimaging studies, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence between the macroenvironment and the structure and functions of the brain, with a particular emphasis on its implications for mental illness. We discuss putative underlying mechanisms and address the most common exposures of the macroenvironment. Finally, we identify critical areas for future research to enhance our understanding of the aetiology of mental illness and to inform effective interventions for healthier environments and mental health promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Polemiti
- Centre of Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Soeren Hese
- Institute of Geography, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | | | - Jiacan Yuan
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Institute of Atmospheric Sciences & CMA-FDU Joint Laboratory of Marine Meteorology & IRDR-ICOE on Risk Interconnectivity and Governance on Weather/Climate Extremes Impact and Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Gunter Schumann
- Centre of Population Neuroscience and Stratified Medicine (PONS), Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
- Centre for Population Neuroscience and Precision Medicine (PONS), Institute for Science and Technology of Brain-inspired Intelligence (ISTBI), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Senkler B, Freymueller J, Lopez Lumbi S, Hornberg C, Schmid HL, Hennig-Fast K, Horstmann G, Mc Call T. Urbanicity-Perspectives from Neuroscience and Public Health: A Scoping Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:688. [PMID: 36613008 PMCID: PMC9819040 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban residency is associated with exposure to environmental factors, which can influence health in many ways. Neuroscientific research, as well as Public Health research, aim towards broadening evidence in the field of Urban Health. However, it is unclear whether the association between urban living and mental illnesses is causal rather than explainable by other selective effects. This review seeks to gather information on the current evidence regarding urban living and neurological outcomes to demonstrate how Public Health and Neuroscience could complement each other in the field of Urban Health. A scoping review was conducted in four electronic databases according to the PRISMA-statement guidelines. 25 empirical studies were included. Outcomes such as schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, social and cognitive functioning were scrutinised. Evidence was found for alteration of brain functioning and brain structure. Most studies researching cognitive functioning or cognitive decline displayed possible protective effects of urban living compared to rural living. The different study designs in Public Health and Neuroscience could profit from each other. Although the comparability of studies is limited by the inconsistent assessments of urbanity. Synergies and potentials to combine aspects of Public Health and Neuroscience in the field of Urban Health to improve population health became apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Senkler
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Julius Freymueller
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Susanne Lopez Lumbi
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Claudia Hornberg
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Hannah-Lea Schmid
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kristina Hennig-Fast
- Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Department Psychiatry, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Gernot Horstmann
- Neurocognitive Psychology, Department Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Timothy Mc Call
- Sustainable Environmental Health Sciences, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Kühn S, Mascherek A, Filevich E, Lisofsky N, Becker M, Butler O, Lochstet M, Mårtensson J, Wenger E, Lindenberger U, Gallinat J. Spend time outdoors for your brain - an in-depth longitudinal MRI study. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:201-207. [PMID: 34231438 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2021.1938670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The effects of nature on physical and mental health are an emerging topic in empirical research with increasing influence on practical health recommendations. Here we set out to investigate the association between spending time outdoors and brain structural plasticity in conjunctions with self-reported affect. METHODS We established the Day2day study, which includes an unprecedented in-depth assessment of variability of brain structure in a serial sequence of 40-50 structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisitions of each of six young healthy participants for 6-8 months (n = 281 MRI scans in total). RESULTS A whole-brain analysis revealed that time spent outdoors was positively associated with grey matter volume in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and positive affect, also after controlling for physical activity, fluid intake, free time, and hours of sunshine. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate remarkable and potentially behaviorally relevant plasticity of cerebral structure within a short time frame driven by the daily time spent outdoors. This is compatible with anecdotal evidence of the health and mood-promoting effects of going for a walk. The study may provide the first evidence for underlying cerebral mechanisms of so-called green prescriptions with possible consequences for future interventions in mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Kühn
- Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anna Mascherek
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elisa Filevich
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute for Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Lisofsky
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maxi Becker
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oisin Butler
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Johan Mårtensson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Logopedics, Phoniatrics and Audiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Wenger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulman Lindenberger
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany.,Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Clinic and Policlinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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O'Neill A, Dooley N, Healy C, Carey E, Roddy D, Frodl T, O’Hanlon E, Cannon M. Longitudinal grey matter development associated with psychotic experiences in young people. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:264-273. [PMID: 37124352 PMCID: PMC10140460 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gray matter abnormalities are observed across the psychosis spectrum. The trajectory of these abnormalities in healthy adolescents reporting subthreshold psychotic experiences (PEs) may provide insight into the neural mechanisms underlying psychotic symptoms. The risk of psychosis and additional psychopathology is even higher among these individuals who also report childhood adversity/DSM-5 diagnoses. Thus, the aims of this longitudinal study were to investigate PE-related volumetric changes in young people, noting any effects of childhood adversity/DSM-5 diagnosis. Methods A total of 211 young people 11 to 13 years of age participated in the initial Adolescent Brain Development study. PE classification was determined by expert consensus at each time point. Participants underwent neuroimaging at 3 time points over 6 years. A total of 76 participants with at least one scan were included in the final sample; 34 who met criteria for PEs at least once across all the time points (PE group) and 42 control subjects. Data from 20 bilateral regions of interest were extracted for linear mixed-effects analyses. Results Right hippocampal volume increased over time in the control group, with no increase in the PE group (p = .00352). DSM-5 diagnosis and childhood adversity were not significantly associated with right hippocampal volume. There was no significant effect of group or interaction in any other region. Conclusions These findings further implicate right hippocampal volumetric abnormalities in the pathophysiology underlying PEs. Furthermore, as suggested by previous studies in those at clinical high risk for psychosis and those with first-episode psychosis, it is possible that these deficits may be a marker for later clinical outcomes.
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