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Now scientists have begun to examine how the city affects the brain, and the results are chastening. Just being in an urban environment, they have found, impairs our basic mental processes. After spending a few minutes on a crowded city street, the brain is less able to hold things in memory, and suffers from reduced self-control. While it's long been recognized that city life is exhausting -- that's why Picasso left Paris -- this new research suggests that cities actually dull our thinking, sometimes dramatically so.
I'd think exposure to any hectic and chaotic environment would have an adverse effect on someone's mind and these aren't strictly urban phenomena.
Have they done a study on the benefits of living in a city? Exposure to diverse cultures? Increased social opportunities? Fitness levels(more relevant in walkable cities)? Etc.
There are trade offs for every environment. The key is counterbalancing them.
This is the first study I've seen on this...makes sense, though. It meshes fairly well with many studies done in the past that have scientifically shown the recuperative effects of being outdoors upon the brain, health and the psyche.
I'd think exposure to any hectic and chaotic environment would have an adverse effect on someone's mind and these aren't strictly urban phenomena.
Have they done a study on the benefits of living in a city? Exposure to diverse cultures? Increased social opportunities? Fitness levels(more relevant in walkable cities)? Etc.
There are trade offs for every environment. The key is counterbalancing them.
IMO diversity of culture is everywhere I can't argue a small community will most likely have less but most people only connect with about so many before enough is enough and everyone we come in contact with has a different background. Social opportunities although less in rural areas are irrelevant if you have enough to fill your spare time which in my small town I usually get more than necessary - I would think that translates to any place over a few hundred people - even in small areas you run into people from all over the world and even locally IME the diversity is more than most realize if one chooses to get out even just a little and talk with folks.
I think the study reflects the fact bigger, better, faster, more just muddies the brain - counterbalancing like DTL said is key - that is unless your environment automatically tends to balance things without the conscience requiring adjustments to offset the stress of ones environment.
I'd think exposure to any hectic and chaotic environment would have an adverse effect on someone's mind and these aren't strictly urban phenomena.
Have they done a study on the benefits of living in a city? Exposure to diverse cultures? Increased social opportunities? Fitnesslevels(more relevant in walkable cities)? Etc.
There are trade offs for every environment. The key is counterbalancing them.
I don't know, being out in the country, there's lots of options for "exercise": hiking, hunting, cutting wood...and the cleaner air outside of cities must have some effect...
I don't know, being out in the country, there's lots of options for "exercise": hiking, hunting, cutting wood...and the cleaner air outside of cities must have some effect...
Having grown up in the country, and later living in walkable urban environments, it is my observation that people are generally in much better shape in the city. This is bacause activity levels are more consistent and people do not drive everywhere. When I go to visit my family back in a rural area one of the first things I notice is how overweight people are. I also believe this may be the biggest reason Europeans are usually thinner, seeing as most European cities and towns are full of pedestrian life. I realize there are a lot of opportunities for exercise in the country, but judging on what I have seen people usually do not embrace those opportunities on a consistent basis. Now, the suburbs are the worst of both worlds to me, having limited personal space and still having to rely on a car.
Anyway, there is probably some truth to that article. City life can certainly be more stressfull and expensive. On the flip side, country life can be boring and mind numbing due to limited activities and energy. I guess it depends on what type of person you are. Personally I could go either way, but at this point in my life I prefer the city. When I'm older and ready to relax more I might just end up back in the sticks where my roots are. Just keep me out of the suburbs.
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