The phantom chorus: Birdsong boosts human well-being in protected areas: Phantom chorus improves human well-being

Danielle M. Ferraro, Zachary D. Miller, Lauren A. Ferguson, B. Derrick Taff, Jesse R. Barber, Peter Newman, Clinton D. Francis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

70 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spending time in nature is known to benefit human health and well-being, but evidence is mixed as to whether biodiversity or perceptions of biodiversity contribute to these benefits. Perhaps more importantly, little is known about the sensory modalities by which humans perceive biodiversity and obtain benefits from their interactions with nature. Here, we used a 'phantom birdsong chorus' consisting of hidden speakers to experimentally increase audible birdsong biodiversity during 'on' and 'off' (i.e. ambient conditions) blocks on two trails to study the role of audition in biodiversity perception and self-reported well-being among hikers. Hikers exposed to the phantom chorus reported higher levels of restorative effects compared to those that experienced ambient conditions on both trails; however, increased restorative effects were directly linked to the phantom chorus on one trail and indirectly linked to the phantom chorus on the other trail through perceptions of avian biodiversity. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence linking mental health to nature experiences and suggest that audition is an important modality by which natural environments confer restorative effects. Finally, our results suggest that maintaining or improving natural soundscapes within protected areas may be an important component to maximizing human experiences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number20201811
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume287
Issue number1941
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 23 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Immunology and Microbiology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Environmental Science
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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