Huberman Lab
Huberman Lab
Scicomm Media
How Nature & Other Physical Environments Impact Your Focus, Cognition & Health | Dr. Marc Berman
2 hour 12 minutes Posted Jul 14, 2025 at 8:00 am.
Marc Berman
Direct vs Involuntary Attention, Mental Fatigue, Attention Restoration Theory
Attention Fatigue, Focus & Vision, Tool: Restoring Attention in Nature
Sponsors: Helix Sleep & BetterHelp
Focused Work, Tool: Pre-Work Nature Breaks to Enhance Focus
Nature Walks & Cognitive Benefits, Comparing Nature vs Urban Environments
Nature, “Softly Fascinating Stimulation”, Fractals
Nature Images & Sounds, Cognitive Benefits
Urban vs Nature Images, Complexity & Image Compression; Semantics
Time Perception & Nature; Art Galleries
Tools: Resetting Attention & Nature Break; Features of a Restorative Nature Environments vs Focused Workspace; Length of Time in Nature
Sponsors: AG1 & Our Place
Nature, Time & Widening Attention; Fractals & Nature
Nature vs Urban Environments & Brain, Social Media & Attention
Depression & Rumination, Mental Well-Being, Attention & Nature
Sleep vs Wakefulness; Protecting Attention, Social Media
Sponsor: LMNT
Impulsivity, Texting & Attention, Meditation vs Nature Restoration
Passive Restorative vs Passive Depleting Activities, “Mental Obesity”, Shrinking Attention Span
Kids, Phones, Tool: Nature Free Play; Social Happy Hour, Tool: Solitary Nature Breaks
Physical Health Benefits of Nature, Trees & Indoor Greenery; Aquariums
Thoughts, Feelings & Physical Spaces, Biophilic Design, Bringing Nature Indoors
Nature Breaks, Incorporating Nature into Schools, Work, Home & Cities; Forest Bathing
Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow & Reviews, Sponsors, YouTube Feedback, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
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Show notes
My guest is Dr. Marc Berman, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago whose research explores how different physical environments—particularly nature and patterns found in nature—can positively impact our ability to focus, our cognitive performance and our mental and physical health. We discuss how our physical environment influences our attention, stress levels and brain and heart health. He explains how even brief periods in nature and exposure to natural images and sounds can restore and improve attentional capacity, reduce mental fatigue and help combat rumination and depression. Whether you live in a city, suburb or rural area, this episode offers simple science-backed strategies for incorporating nature and natural elements into your daily life to positively transform your cognitive ability and mental and physical health.
Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.
Thank you to our sponsors
AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman
Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman
BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman
Our Place: https://fromourplace.com/huberman
LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman
Timestamps
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