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.
![Lab_photo](https://voices.uchicago.edu/bermanlab/files/2017/01/Lab_photo.jpg)
NEWS
the University of Chicago News: “How city planning can consider nature’s impact on mental health”
A new study co-authored by Professor Berman offers a framework for how city planners can measure the mental health benefits of nature. Click here to read more.
Ph.D. student Kim Meidenbauer awarded Dissertation Completion Fellowship
Ph.D. student Kim Meidenbauer in ENL was awarded a William Rainey Harper Dissertation Year Fellowship for the 2019-2020 academic year.
the University of Chicago News: “Children don’t like nature as much as adults-but preferences change with age”
A recent study from the Environmental Neuroscience Lab on children's environmental preferences was covered by the University of Chicago News: "Children don't like nature as much as adults-but preferences change with age". Read the full article here.