Environmental neuroscience unravels the pathway from the physical environment to mental health

Abstract

Genes, as well as the environment, are known to affect mental health. However, the effects of the physical environment on mental health are not well understood. The emerging field of environmental neuroscience aims to fill this gap. Here we present an outline of different areas of research that need to be undertaken in this field. These range from identification of the ‘active ingredients’ of the physical environment (for example, terpenes, air pollutants and low-level visual features), the investigation of which human senses are most strongly involved in processing those active ingredients, and a description of the brain-based mechanisms. The long-term goal and potential application of this new research field is to build knowledge for evidence-based urban and landscape planning to foster salutogenic environments that prevent and alleviate mental health problems. The identification of active ingredients may help to preserve our environment in the face of disturbances such as urbanization and climate change. In this Perspective, Kühn and Gallinat present the role for environmental neuroscience in examining mental health and discuss how urban and natural environments can have detrimental or beneficial effects on mental health.