Could Grounding Improve Cognition?

There is a significant positive correlation between exposure to nature and improved cognitive function [1].Even just the sight of nature can boost brain function, for example researchers found that productivity increased when subjects had potted plants near them while working [2], another study found significantly improved performance when executing tasks near potted plants [3] and yet another study found that working daily with plants decreased dementia risk by in incredible 36% [4], possibly because gardening has been found to increase levels of growth factors like Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) [5] as well as boost levels of the brain neurotransmitters tryptophan and serotonin [6].So, this begs the question, if just seeing nature has an impact on brain function, might connecting directly to the earth outside -a healing practice known as grounding -have additional benefits?New research suggests yes.Connecting our electrically based central nervous system to the electrical output of the earth makes an immediate impact on how the human brain functions, and grounding research over the past several decades has added new insight on how our brains may work in cohesion to the earth's electrical activity.This article serves as a review of what we know so far on how grounding impacts the function of the brain.