The RAAIN (Restoring Attention & Affect In Nature) Lab, directed by Dr. Sara LoTemplio, uses cognitive neuroscience to study how contact with natural environments shapes the brain and body — and how that science can be put to work improving health and wellbeing.
We seek to understand connections between humans and nature. Specifically, we are interested in understanding if spending time in nature can lead to greater wellbeing outcomes — from increased cognitive control capabilities, to reduced stress, to slower cognitive aging. We typically use what are traditionally considered cognitive neuroscience methodologies, but employ a flexible and interdisciplinary approach to answering some of our most pressing research questions.
We envision a world in which humans lead healthy and meaningful lives in harmony with the natural world and have access to scientific information that serves themselves and their communities.
We combine behavioral testing with psychophysiological measures — EEG, ECG/heart-rate variability, pupillometry — to understand what nature does to the brain and body, and how to put that knowledge to use.
How does nature influence the brain, body, and mind?
Can exposure to nature help slow cognitive aging and preserve mental function?
How does emotion affect cognition, and what can neuroscience reveal about that link?
How do we design nature-based interventions that best improve cognition and mental health?