LIGHTING UP THE BRAIN
Sarah Knapton, science editor
Sarah Knapton, science editor
(The Telegraph, October 2017)
The poet WH Auden coined the
word ‘topophilia’ in 1948 to describe the sense of belonging people experience
when returning to an important place from their past.
Now, for the first time,
scientists have recorded that nostalgic reaction in the brain using MRI scans.
Whether it is wandering through
woodland where we once played as children, or paddling in the same seas as past
summer holidays, going back to meaningful places sparks significant mental and
emotional changes which boosts wellbeing, the research suggests.
The study by TheNational Trust and The University of Surrey showed a far greater
boost of activity in the amygdala - a key area for processing emotion - when
volunteers were shown pictures of personal sites, compared to important
objects.
It suggests, for example, that
the place where a person gets married carries a far greater emotional
importance than the ring they receive on the day, or photographs from the
wedding.
"For the first time we have
been able to prove the physical and emotional benefits of place, far beyond any
research that has been done before,” said Dr Andy Myers, of Surrey University.
"MRI opens a window into the
brain allowing us to explore automatic emotional responses, scientifically
demonstrating a tangible link between people and places that is often difficult
to verbally describe.
"With meaningful places
generating a significant response in areas of the brain known to process
emotion, it's exciting to understand how deep rooted this connection truly
is."
The study involved 20 people who
were asked to bring photographs of ten important objects and ten meaningful
places to the lab, where their brains were scanned when looking at each.
Meaningful places not only
triggered a far stronger response than common places in the amygdala, but also
in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex which is responsible for activating positive
emotions and memories. There was also a boost in activity in the
Parahippocampal Place Area, a part of the brain linked to feelings of self.
A separate survey involving 2,000
people was also carried out to find out how important places were.
Two thirds of those surveyed said
their special place makes them feel calm and provided an escape from everyday
life while almost half said it helped them to re-evaluate stress and worries.
Nine out 10 people said they
would be upset if their meaningful place was lost.
Nino Strachey, Head of Research
and Specialist Advice for The National Trust, said: "The National Trust
exists because our forward thinking founder Octavia Hill intrinsically knew the
importance of places for people. Now, 122 years later, science has proven her
mission is still as relevant and important today.
"This research confirms places we love not
only shape who we are, but offer deep physical and psychological benefits
making it even more vital that we look after them for future generations.