Shankar Vedantam

You also looked at how nature can affect our moods.

We heard a story about nature and depression from a listener named Betsy.

I'm so glad that Betsy's daughter is doing better, Mark.

But one thing that struck me about what she said is that walking helps her get outside of herself for a period of time.

Does nature help us see ourselves differently?

We heard from many listeners who have dealt with the death of a loved one by seeking out nature.

We can't play all of the messages we received, but let's hear two of them.

Here are Anjali and Randy.

Mark, these are such powerful and moving stories.

Has there been any research specifically on the effects that nature can have on people who are grieving?

When we come back, how our cultural views shape our engagement with nature.

You're listening to Hidden Brain.

I'm Shankar Vedantam.

This is Hidden Brain.

I'm Shankar Vedantam.

We have many idioms and metaphors about nature.

Mother Earth, the Tree of Life, a River of Time, branching possibilities.

All of these suggest the many ways our experience of nature is woven into our experience of the world.

Mark Berman is a psychologist at the University of Chicago.

He studies the effects that nature has on our minds.