Attentional capacity has limited resources. High attentional loads can induce a state of cognitive fatigue, impairing performance on subsequent tasks. Modern-day urban environments often induce these types of cognitive states; whereas nature provides an environment in which effortful and voluntary attention is not often required. According to the Kaplans’ Theory of Attention Restoration, spending time in a natural environment can restore depleted cognitive resources. If nature exposure restores depleted attentional resources, then nature exposure may modulate the Error-Related Negativity (ERN) component of the Event Related Potential (ERP), which is generated in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Previous research has shown that glucose can increase ERN amplitude, whereas the present study (Study 1) conversely found that nature decreases ERN amplitude. We hypothesize that this may represent an offloading of working memory from the error-monitoring system during nature exposure, rather than a replenishment of depleted resources.
This pre-registration is written for a direct replication of the findings of Study 1 and will occur in late spring 2019. This study (Study 2), will constitute an exact replication, using the same experimental materials, in the same location at the same time of year.