According to reports from the United States, a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that wilderness hiking can enhance creativity and benefit brain health.
The results of the new study conducted by scientists at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, USA, show that hikers (backpackers) who turn off all electronic devices and hike in the wilderness for four days experience a 50% improvement in creativity test results.
In the new study, 56 participants with an average age of 28 completed 4–6 day outdoor hiking activities organized by outdoor adventure agencies in Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and Washington. During the hikes, participants did not carry electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets.
Twenty-four participants took a 10-question creativity test on the morning of the hike’s departure, while 32 took the creativity test on the morning after completing the four-day hike. The results showed that participants who had completed the hike answered 6 out of 10 questions correctly, compared to 4 out of 10 before the hike.
Is it the “calming effect” of nature that unlocks creativity, or is it the disconnection from electronic devices that boosts it? Dr. David Strayer, a psychologist and the lead researcher of the new study, says that the boost in creativity is related to both factors. He noted that if you don’t have the opportunity to go hiking, that’s okay. Activities like taking a walk in the park or gardening are also great ways to connect with nature. Temporarily parting with electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers can help improve cognitive abilities. Additionally, listening to calming music can also contribute to enhanced creativity.
Dr. David Straker, a professor at Columbia University Medical Center, says that the key to boosting creativity is: action. Outdoor exercise helps the brain release more euphoric hormones like endorphins, and walking outdoors is more beneficial to mental health than running on an indoor treadmill.