"Researchers are looking into a natural bacteria called
mycobacterium vaccae, which is found in soil. People can breath or ingest this bacteria when in nature to boost levels of serotonin and reduce levels of anxiety. Since serotonin levels are associated with learning, the findings suggest that creating schools where students can spend more time outdoors, exposed to this bacteria, may increase their ability to learn new tasks more efficiently." [
Mice exposed to the bacteria got through mazes twice as fast]
"These studies... leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt." [
Dr Chris Lowry, lead author on a similar paper from Bristol University]
