Stroll along beautiful streets affects gait and brain health

Creating a comfortable urban environment improves the cognitive functions of residents: this is the conclusion reached by scientists from Bristol University (UK). The study showed that walking in the city improves concentration and attention to the same extent as walking in nature - if the urban environment is well designed and appealing to people. 

According to scientists, a person's gait patterns, variability, and rhythm of their movements depend on the terrain in which they are walking. Analyzing the pattern of the gait - the rhythm, the characteristics of steps - you can understand how comfortable a person is in the environment. At the same time, there is a correlation between the amount of pleasure a person gets from walking and the degree of improvement in the brain's cognitive functions, such as attention and concentration.

Simply put, the more a person enjoys the terrain in which they walk, the more beneficial the walk is to their brain. This pattern has been found in studies on the effects of walking in parks on a person's physical and mental health. 

The new experiment focused on the effect of urban surroundings on a person's gait pattern and, consequently, their cognitive functions. Participants in the study were 50 people. Volunteers were asked to walk around the laboratory, on the walls of which were projected images of urban and natural landscapes. The characteristics of the participants' movements were evaluated using a computer program embedded in the surveillance cameras.

It turned out that changes in gait, indicating a comfortable and relaxed state of mind, were equally observed when contemplating the beautiful nature and picturesque architectural ensembles. In addition, experts noticed a similarity between changes in gait patterns in inner discomfort and some of the movement patterns that are observed with aging. 

- As our cognitive abilities begin to decline as we age, the patterns of steps we create with our feet become slower and more variable compared to the way we gait in our prime," explains lead author Daria Burtan. - The same thing happened when people walked among urban and natural landscapes they didn't like. The rhythm of their steps became slower, compared with the features of their movement among pleasant and comfortable landscapes. 

According to scientists, two important conclusions can be drawn from the results of the experiment. First, in a comfortable environment, the brain is better able to process information, which improves attention and concentration. Secondly, the study shows that a well-designed urban environment can be just as useful for concentration and attention as the natural environment, and competent architectural solutions are important for maintaining the cognitive health of city residents. 

Sept. 7, 2021, 12:32 p.m.

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