There is a scientific reason that humans feel better walking through the woods than strolling down a city street.
Richard Taylor’s research has found that looking at fractals, which are very common in nature, can reduce stress and mental fatigue for the observer by as much as 60%. Image by Michael Lux via Creative Commons.
"The authors examined the question: 'What happens in your brain when you walk down the street?' and they conclude that urban environments are not pleasing to the human brain.
"The reason is the lack of fractals in modern architecture and spaces. Fractals are patterns that self-repeat at different scales, and they can be found all over nature in objects like trees, rivers, clouds, and coastlines.
"Because of this prevalence of natural fractals, the human brain has evolved to respond favorably to fractals, and to do so in the blink of an eye. The human brain only needs 50 milliseconds to detect the presence of fractals.
“'As soon as we look at nature, it triggers a cascade of automatic responses,' says physicist Richard Taylor of the University of Oregon. 'Even before we’ve noticed what we’re looking at, we’re responding to it.'
"And the response is a positive one. Humans experience less stress and better well-being when looking at nature, and this is driven by fractals."
Article: Why Your Brain Likes Nature More Than Cities