Doing outdoor activities brings many benefits From a cognitive point of view to the boys between 11 and 13 years of age: this is what emerges from a study published on Physiology & Behaviorwhich highlights how to move outside, rather than inside, the attention of attention, the memory and the speed of thought is better.
The test. That spending time outdoors did well to mental health had already confirmed several previous studies: what was not clear was whether combining the two factors – nature and physical activity – the positive effects were amplified. To find out, the researchers involved 45 British students between 11 and 13 years of age in identical physical activities to be carried out outside and within the school.
First, immediately after and 45 minutes after the end of the activities, the participants were subjected to cognitive tests computerized that have measured several aspects concerning the mnemonic skills, selective attention and the inhibitory control capacity. From the results it emerged that after having carried out outdoor physical activity The boys responded much better in all cognitive tests.
Why? The reasons why they move outdoors is better than doing it closed are not clear, but the experts advance some hypotheses: one is the so -called attention regeneration theoryaccording to which natural environments involve the mind in a kind and non -demanding way, allowing them to recharge from tiredness;
Another possibility is that being immersed in nature reduces stress and better emotional well -being – Although, in this study, the boys showed the same levels of fun and pleasure in both sessions.
Future studies. Also considering the limits of research – such as the reduced sample of participants and the involvement of two relatively rural schools, both with the availability of large green spaces – The authors suggest analyzing in the future how different types of external environments (parks, woods or green spaces in the city) They affect the results, involving teenagers stressed by tight study rhythms to further verify the benefits of outdoor physical activity.
