Before and after the walk, neuroscientists put the participants in an fMRI machine to capture their brains’ resting activity. The participants also answered questions about their state of mind, including how much they agreed with statements like “My attention is focused on aspects of myself I wish I’d stop thinking about.” After the scenic hike—but not the walk on the busy roadway—participants reported less anxiety and negative self-focused thinking. Their post-walk brain scans revealed less activity in the subgenual cortex, an area linked to self-criticism, sadness, and rumination.
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