The Environmental Neuroscience Lab at the University of Chicago
is interested in how the physical environment affects the brain and behavior. Previous findings from the ENL show that brief interactions with natural environments (such as walks in a park) can improve memory and attention by 20%. Studies in our lab have examined how interacting with natural environments promotes these improvements, investigating brain networks that underlie the relationship between environment and behavior. We hope to further understand which features of the natural environment lead to improvements in memory and attention as well as identify other manipulations that increase brain efficiency. Our current research examines how physical and social characteristics of urban spaces –including social cohesion, physical disorder, heat, and greenspace– (1) affect interactions between individuals in different neighborhoods and (2) relate to crime. In pursuit of this question, we are using deep learning approaches to analyze large set of social networking, image, and video data from sources including Twitter, Reddit, Yelp, Google Street View, and Sage. With a better understanding and quantification of the relationships between the brain, behavior, and the environment, we hope our research will influence the design of physical spaces in ways that will optimize human mental health, physical health, and overall well-being.
NEWS
Why Silicon Valley’s top execs are obsessed with taking walks
Matt McFarland, a writer for CNN Money, interviewed Professor Berman for his article on why executives in Silicon Valley take walks in nature to work through problems, interview job applicants or hold office meetings. Please click here for the article.
Healthy Trees – Healthy City: A Celebration of National Tree Day
The city of Ottawa hosted "Healthy Trees - Healthy City: A Celebration of National Tree Day" on September 21, 2016 in Lansdowne Park, Ottawa. The event included displays focused on environment and healthy living, and the opening of PhotoSynthesis 2, a Tree Fest Ottawa...
Natural Capital Symposium
Hosted by the Natural Capital Project at Stanford University, the 2016 Natural Capital Symposium will be a major convening of leaders in natural capital approaches around the world. We are coordinating with international and domestic groups focusing on natural capital...