CORRELATES BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL GREEN SPACE EXPOSURE, WELL-BEING, AND BRAIN STRUCTURE

Abstract

The majority of the global population now resides in urban environments. Additionally, natural spaces are being developed at an unsustainable rate. This ever-widening disconnect from the natural world has raised questions about the consequences of such a lifestyle on the human psyche and physiology. This study explores how greenspace access influences human brain development by measuring the correlation between lifelong residential greenspace (RGS) access, brain structure, and well-being/connectedness using satellite imaging, MRI, and survey data. The hypotheses include: 1) lifelong RGS exposure is positively associated with gray matter volume (GMV) in the hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, thalamus, and cerebellum; 2) lifelong RGS exposure is negatively associated with GMV in the amygdala; 3) lifelong RGS exposure is positively correlated with well-being and various types of connectedness; and 4) lifelong RGS is negatively correlated with neuroticism. Data collection is part of the STF Neuroimaging Collective at the University of Washington, which will eventually involve around 150-200 participants. This paper serves as a preliminary analysis of an initial 20 subjects. Understanding the interplay between greenness, brain structure, and mental health is vital for improving human health and advocating for nature. Researchers, policymakers, and urban planners should recognize the impact of neighborhood greenness on mental health, create environmentally conscious policies, and design urban areas. This research underscores the importance of preserving wild spaces and prioritizing urban greenspace development, intersecting environmental justice, equity, and human health.