The latest proof of this is revealed in the May 2012 edition of Backpacker magazine. Six people were chosen to be part of a four-day, 30-mile-long groundbreaking research project. The setting, Grand Gulch, Utah. The question: Does backpacking make you smarter?
A team of researchers designed the experiment with the thought that if you are exposed to nature, it can cause significant measurable changes to the brain. You will think more clearly, focus more acutely, and perform to your maximum cognitive ability. So the theory is the longer you are in the back country the smarter you will be. This is not the first adventure-laced experiment of it's kind. Other studies have already linked exposure to the wild with stress reduction and happiness.
What if hiking was mandated as an activity. Plus imagine if backpacking were the recommended way to prepare for the SAT's, the bar exam, or any big mental challenge. This new field we are talking about is called environmental neuroscience, which actually falls under the heading of environmental psychology.
When I think of the many multi-day backpack trips I have taken over the years, there is no doubt, I always felt better when I returned to my job. So how much wilderness do you need for a complete dose of brain restoration and how long does it last? Those and other questions are to be answered.
Test results of those lucky soles who took part in this awesome experiment were as follows: Day one test-takers earned a mean score of 4.14 out of 10. Day four subjects, earned a 6.08. That is significant in scientific terms. Adjusted for variables the experiment shows a 50-percent increase in creative thought.
Does this make you want to volunteer to be a tester or what.
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