Latest news with #MolecularPsychiatry
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How Long You May Need To Walk Outside To See A Boost In Your Mental Health
There's a reason why the sounds of nature — chirping birds, flowing streams, falling rain — are often sound options for white noise machines and meditation apps: They're calming. A new small study published in Molecular Psychiatry further underscores this. The study found that a one-hour nature walk reduces stress when compared to a one-hour walk in a bustling city environment. The study followed 63 people who were randomly assigned a nature walk or an urban walk. The nature walk took place in a forest in Berlin and the urban walk took place on a busy street in the city. Participants were instructed not to check their phones or stop in stores while on their walk. They were given a bagged lunch and a phone with a 30-minute timer that instructed them to turn around. Before the walk, participants filled out a questionnaire and then underwent an fMRI scan that measured two tasks. The first task measured brain activity during a 'fearful faces task,' in which participants were shown 15 female and 15 male faces that either had a neutral or scared expression. The second task measured was brain activity during an 'Montreal Imaging Stress Task,' which is designed to create a level of stress in participants. During the task, participants had a set amount of time to solve challenging arithmetic problems. After the walk, participants filled out another questionnaire and underwent another fMRI scan that measured the same tasks they conducted before their walk. The results showed that nature significantly improved people's stress levels. The study found that those who took part in the 60-minute nature walk experienced lower stress levels following their time outside. 'The results of our study show that after only [a] one-hour walk in nature, activity in brain regions involved in stress processing decreases,' Sonja Sudimac, the lead author of the study, told Medical News Today. Particularly, the researchers found the brain's amygdala activity (which is responsible for our stress and fear response) decreased in those who were in the nature walk group. This decrease was not seen in people who completed the city walk. According to the study, urban environments can negatively impact one's mental health, leading to increased rates of anxiety, depression and mood disorders. (Just think about the stress that comes with frequently honking horns, running to catch a bus or dealing with long lines just to get some groceries.) In fact, other studies show that mental health can suffer in urban areas because of the crowded nature of cities and, in general, the increased amount of stressors throughout the environment. It's worth noting that the study had a few limitations: All participants were from a similar background and the study could not control who participants saw on their walk. So, for example, if someone on a walk in the forest saw someone relaxing on their day off, it could have further decreased the stress response in the participant. This study also only focused on the benefits of a one-hour-long nature walk — it's unclear if the same positive results would occur in a shorter amount of time. But, Sudimac told Medical News Today that there is evidence that levels of the stress hormone cortisol decrease after a 15-minute nature walk, which would make a version of this study that looked at shorter walks interesting. Plus, outside of this study, there is extensive research on the positive effects of the outdoors, so it's not hard to conclude that even a few minutes outside is better than nothing. Beyond decreased stress, nature has other benefits. Dr. Tamanna Singh, co-director of the sports cardiology center at Cleveland Clinic, previously told HuffPost that walking in nature has additional mental health benefits, too. 'Many of us just don't get enough of nature, and a walk is a fantastic way to focus on taking in air, walking on mother earth, listening to the leaves rustling, the birds chirping, essentially 'forest bathing,'' she said. Forest bathing has a number of benefits, she pointed out: It can help improve mindfulness, can be meditative and can improve your breathing. Spending time outside has also been shown to improve your sleep, increase your creativity and boost your immune function. Whether you live in a city or a rural area, try to prioritize nature walks. The results are clear: Spending time in nature is good for your mental health. But don't be discouraged if you live in a city. It's important to note that the study's nature walk took place in an urban forest within the city of Berlin. So, even just a walk through your local park or nature reserve can help you achieve a sense of calm. The key is getting around green space ― and dedicating 60 minutes to moving your body and soaking up the outdoors. The headline and subheadline of this story have been updated to better reflect the study. Related... This Type Of Walking May Drastically Improve Your Heart Function How Much You Need To Walk Every Day To Cut Your Risk Of Heart Disease Should We All Be Squatting More?
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Is there a link between brain injury and criminal behaviour?
A recent study reveals a potential link between brain damage and criminal behavior, specifically highlighting the disruption of the uncinate fasciculus pathway. Researchers found that damage to this area, which connects emotion and decision-making regions, correlates with increased criminal activity. The findings raise ethical questions about culpability and the role of brain injury in legal responsibility. Is criminal behaviour really linked to changes in the brain? Can changes in the brain really turn law-abiding citizens into criminals? Well, a groundbreaking study found that damage to a specific region of the brain may contribute to criminal or violent behaviour. A new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School has found sheds light on the neural roots of violence and moral decision-making. The study is published in Molecular Psychiatry . Disruption in the brain pathway To understand the link between brain injury and criminal behaviour, the researchers looked at brain scans of people who started committing crimes after sustaining brain injuries from strokes, tumors, or traumatic brain injury. They compared it with 17 cases to brain scans from 706 individuals with other neurological symptoms, such as memory loss or depression. What they found was striking. The researchers found that injury to a specific brain pathway on the right side, called the uncinate fasciculus, was common in people with criminal behaviour. This pattern was also seen in people who committed violent crimes. 'This part of the brain, the uncinate fasciculus, is a white matter pathway that serves as a cable connecting regions that govern emotion and decision-making. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A Apple Recomenda o Blinkist, O Melhor App Para Intelectuais Ao Redor do Mundo Blinkist Undo When that connection is disrupted on the right side, a person's ability to regulate emotions and make moral choices may be severely impaired,' Christopher M. Filley, MD, professor emeritus of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and one of the study's co-authors, said in a statement. 'While it is widely accepted that brain injury can lead to problems with memory or motor function, the role of the brain in guiding social behaviors like criminality is more controversial. It raises complex questions about culpability and free will,' Isaiah Kletenik, MD, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study, said. What are the experts saying Kletenik noted that while working in behavioral neurology training at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, he had the opportunity to evaluate patients who began committing acts of violence with the onset of brain tumors or degenerative diseases. 'These clinical cases prompted my curiosity into the brain basis of moral decision-making and led me to learn new network-based neuroimaging techniques at the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School,' Kletenik said. To further confirm the findings, the researchers conducted a full connectome analysis, using a detailed map of how brain regions are interconnected. The analysis showed that the right uncinate fasciculus was the neural pathway with the most consistent link to criminal behavior. 'It wasn't just any brain damage; it was damage in the location of this pathway. Our finding suggests that this specific connection may play a unique role in regulating behaviour,' Filley said. Lalo Schifrin Dies At 93: A Tribute To 4-Time Grammy Winning 'Mission: Impossible' Theme Composer The specific pathway connects the brain regions linked to reward-based decision-making with those that process emotions. However, when this link is damaged, particularly on the right side, it may lead to difficulty in controlling impulses, anticipating consequences, or feeling empathy, all of which can contribute to harmful or criminal actions. Not everyone with an injury turns violent (Pic courtesy: iStock) The researchers also found that not everyone with this type of brain injury becomes violent. However, the damage to this tract may play a role in the new onset of criminal behavior after injury. 'This work could have real-world implications for both medicine and the law. Doctors may be able to better identify at-risk patients and offer effective early interventions. And courts might need to consider brain damage when evaluating criminal responsibility,' Filley added. Kletenik also noted that the findings of this study could raise crucial ethical questions. 'Should brain injury factor into how we judge criminal behavior? Causality in science is not defined in the same way as culpability in the eyes of the law. Still, our findings provide useful data that can help inform this discussion and contribute to our growing knowledge about how social behavior is mediated by the brain,' Kletenik said.
