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Do Mental Health Changes in Nature Co-occur with Changes in Heartrate Variability and Executive Functioning? A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Given the global burden of mental health issues, new solutions are needed to promote mental health. Nature exposure represents a promising option to promote mental health, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent frameworks have argued that changes in mental health in nature are caused by activity changes in the vagus nerve, which connects the heart and the brain, and that these changes also improve executive functioning (EF) abilities. This suggests that changes in mental health symptomology in nature should be accompanied by changes in vagus nerve activity, as well as changes in executive functioning. Yet, little work has systematically examined co-variation of these outcomes in empirical studies. The present manuscript systematically examines whether changes in mental health in nature are accompanied by changes in vagus nerve activity (approximated by heartrate variability) and changes in executive functioning.

Recent Findings

There is compelling evidence that spending time in nature can increase heartrate variability, improve mental health, and improve executive functioning. However, despite strong theoretical claims that these three outcomes should be linked after spending time in nature settings, few studies directly examine such co-occurrence.

Summary

The study systematically examines whether studies that considered both mental health and executive functioning (n = 6) showed co-occurring effects in response to nature exposure. Similarly, the study also considers if studies examining mental health and heartrate variability (n = 6) showed similarly directional effects following nature exposure. This systematic review concludes with discussion about the limited number of studies (n =1) that include all three measures. We find mixed results of co-occurrence with these variables, suggesting that the relationship between these three constructs in nature may be more nuanced than current theory suggests. Perhaps more importantly, our results demonstrate that there is very little existing work linking changes in mental health to changes in EF and vagal tone. We conclude with justification for why it may be beneficial for researchers to include all three metrics as well as guidance on how to do so.

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Funding

While there was no funding to support the research, Dr. Bettmann received funding from Nature Human Health Utah to disseminate these and other findings at national conferences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorado State University, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Sara LoTemplio

  2. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Joanna E. Bettmann

  3. Vermont State University, Johnson, VT, USA

    Emily Scott

  4. University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA

    Ellison Blumenthal

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  1. Sara LoTemplio
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Contributions

The second author conceptualized and designed the study. The second author also oversaw data collection. Data analysis was performed by the first author. The first draft of the manuscript was written by the first author and the second author. All authors commented on the versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sara LoTemplio.

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This study was approved by the University of Utah Institutional Review Board.

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LoTemplio, S., Bettmann, J.E., Scott, E. et al. Do Mental Health Changes in Nature Co-occur with Changes in Heartrate Variability and Executive Functioning? A Systematic Review. Curr Envir Health Rpt 10, 278–290 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00407-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00407-6

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