A Breath of Fresh Air

By: Kelly Christian

Going outside and playing maybe more than just a time to run around in the sun and take in the fresh air. Dr. Stephen Kaplan, a professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan, was intrigued by the refreshing effects of spending time outside and for much of his career he has studied the cognitive benefits of being outdoors.

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Creepshow movie What's the Worst That Could Happen? The Hand movie download From his research, Dr. Kaplan proposed the Attention Restoration Theory (ART) to better understand why many individuals report having their senses awakened after being in natural environments.
ART specifies…

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  • Much of our day (children and adults alike) requires directed and effortful attention
  • Mental fatigue occurs when our directed attention is over stimulated for long periods of time
  • By being outdoors, we engage in activities that draw on involuntary attention
  • Involuntary attention is automatic and is engaged by inherently interesting stimuli (sunsets, waves, a breeze, movement, bright colors, etc)
  • Stimulating our involuntary attention will give our directed attention a rest and subsequently enhance our performance on tasks that require direct attention
  • When Kaplan and other researchers have put this theory to the test, important findings arouse:
  • • One, that being in an environment that uses involuntary attention improves an individual’s directed attention abilities on subsequent tasks.
  • Two, that the environment outside really matters in how well attention is restored.
  • Greener” environments come with greater restorative effects on cognitive functioning
  • My Cousin Vinny hd For example, while both are beneficial, walking in a natural park appears to improve attention more than spending time outside in urban or suburban areas
    Kaplan’s work in this area supports the necessity to provide opportunities every day for children to spend time outside as they develop! It may be that children who are given time throughout the day to take in the fresh air and natural scenes could improve their thinking abilities!

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