Of cricket chirps and car horns: The effect of nature sounds on cognitive performance

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review - Tập 26 - Trang 522-530 - 2018
Stephen C. Van Hedger1,2, Howard C. Nusbaum3,1, Luke Clohisy, Susanne M. Jaeggi4,5, Martin Buschkuehl6, Marc G. Berman3,1
1Center for Practical Wisdom, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
2Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, Canada
3Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
4School of Education, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA
5Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, USA
6MIND Research Institute, Irvine, USA

Tóm tắt

Attention restoration theory (ART) posits that stimuli found in nature may restore directed attention functioning by reducing demands on the endogenous attention system. In the present experiment, we assessed whether nature-related cognitive benefits extended to auditory presentations of nature, a topic that has been understudied. To assess directed attention, we created a composite measure consisting of a backward digit span task and a dual n-back task. Participants completed these cognitive measures and an affective questionnaire before and after listening to and aesthetically judging either natural or urban soundscapes (between-participants). Relative to participants who were exposed to urban soundscapes, we observed significant improvements in cognitive performance for individuals exposed to nature. Urban soundscapes did not systematically affect performance either adversely or beneficially. Natural sounds did not differentially change positive or negative affect, despite these sounds being aesthetically preferred to urban sounds. These results provide initial evidence that brief experiences with natural sounds can improve directed attention functioning in a single experimental session.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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