The Science of Tender Green: How Spring Colors Affect the Brain
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reveals that exposure to specific shades of green associated with spring vegetation can modulate neural activity in brain regions linked to emotional regulation and stress response, according to researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid.
The research, led by neuroscientist Ana Isabel San José, used functional magnetic resonance imaging to observe brain responses in 30 healthy adults while they viewed digital images of natural landscapes filtered to isolate varying hues of green. Participants were shown images dominated by light, yellowish greens typical of new spring growth — referred to in the study as “verde tierno” — alongside darker, more mature greens and neutral grayscale controls.
Results indicated significantly reduced activation in the amygdala and increased connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and default mode network when subjects viewed the tender green images, patterns associated with lowered anxiety and improved attentional control in prior neuroscientific literature.
“We observed a consistent neurophysiological shift toward states of calm and internal focus when participants were exposed to the specific spectral qualities of spring’s early greenery,” San José said in a university press release. “This suggests that the visual experience of certain natural greens may directly influence brain networks involved in mood regulation.”
The study controlled for luminance, saturation, and spatial frequency to isolate hue as the primary variable, ensuring that differences in neural response were attributable to color wavelength rather than brightness or contrast. Spectral analysis confirmed that the “verde tierno” stimuli peaked at approximately 555 nanometers, aligning with the reflectance properties of young chlorophyll-rich leaves under diffuse daylight.
Researchers note that while the findings demonstrate a measurable neural correlate of color perception in natural environments, they do not establish that viewing spring greens alone can treat clinical conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders. The sample was limited to young urban adults with no diagnosed psychiatric or neurological conditions, limiting generalizability to other populations.
The team emphasizes that the results support growing evidence in environmental neuroscience that specific visual elements of natural settings — beyond the mere presence of greenery — may contribute to restorative effects observed in urban planning and public health studies. They suggest future research should examine longitudinal exposure effects and potential applications in therapeutic design for healthcare or educational spaces.
No external funding sources were disclosed in the publication, and the authors declare no conflicts of interest related to the study’s design, execution, or interpretation.