Peaceful Images Help Your Brain Work Better    [01-10-2010] What do you usually to when you are under stress? There are many ways to relieve stress. Some people play video games, while others go shopping or go to the movies. Sometimes taking a nap or eating something delicious can help you feel better. But did you know that beautiful scenes can also help you relax? According to a new study, seeing peaceful images makes you feel better. It also helps improve your brain function. British researchers at the University of Sheffield studied how images help the brain function. The team carried out a test where people were presented with two different images: one containing beaches and the other motorway scenes. Then they examined brain activity through brain scanning. The researchers found that images play an important role in calming the brain. According to them, scenes containing nature and peaceful images cause different brain areas to become connected with one another. On the other hand, the motorway scenes disrupted connections within the brain. “We wanted to understand how the brain works when it perceives natural environments. We found in our study that the brain works better when it perceives scenes of nature by making people feel relaxed and calm,” said Dr. Michael Hunter, who led the study. “If you feel stressed in your day-to-day life, try to see peaceful images that include nature. Then you will feel better soon as your brain experiences calmness,” he advised. He added that peaceful nature images may be used in public spaces and buildings to help people feel calm and relaxed.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)