Taking a walk in the park could help those suffering from depression, researchers have found.They studied whether a nature walk could improve the mood of people with clinical depression.The research also tested theories developed in a cognitive science field known as Attention Restoration Theory, which propose that people concentrate better after spending time in nature or looking at natural scenes.According to ART, those in peaceful settings are not bombarded with external distractions, which tax their working memory and attention systems.As a result, the brain can relax and enter a state of contemplation, which helps restore cognitive capacities.For the latest study, 20 people with clinical depression – 12 women and eight men, with an average age of 26 – took part in an experiment that involved walking in a quiet nature setting and in a noisy urban setting.Before their walks, participants completed testing to determine their cognitive and mood status, and were asked to think about an unresolved, painful memory.They were then told to go for an hour-long walk in a woodland park, or stroll along a busy street.
