Watching fish and marine animals going about their daily lives, swimming in their aquarium’s terrain, is oddly calming and hypnotic in a sense and according to research recently published in Environment & Behavior, it’s good for your health too.
British researchers from Plymouth University and the University of Exeter collaborated with the National Marine Aquarium to monitor changes in people’s physical being and mental health after a stint of aquarium-gazing.
Findings, after watching fish at the National Marine Aquarium, participants had a notable reduction in heart rate and blood pressure and it seems the more, the merrier, as researchers also reported that people were more captivated and had a more positive mood if there were high numbers of fish in the tank.
Studies have also shown that people are soothed by spending a lot of time in more natural environments but there hasn’t been much research into the effects of marine environments on people’s mood and overall wellbeing.
“Fish tanks and displays are often associated with attempts at calming patients in doctors’ surgeries and dental waiting rooms,” said PhD student and the study’s research lead Deborah Cracknell in a press release.
“This study has, for the first time, provided robust evidence that ‘doses’ of exposure to underwater settings could actually have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing.”
With clear benefits to mental and physical wellbeing, could we see more public aquariums arriving to calm us in our everyday lives?
“While large public aquariums focus on educational missions and our study suggests they could offer a number of previously undiscovered benefits,” said Dr. Sabine Pahl, associate professor in psychology at Plymouth University.
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