Page - 140 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

140 on mental imagery (Hagerhall et  al. 2015, p.  3). The authors found that the brain responded differently to statistical and exact fractals. Statistical fractals resulted in the highest alpha waves in the brain, suggesting that they attract effortless attention, enabling the mind to think about other things (Hagerhall et  al. 2015). Taylor et  al. (2011) tracked participants’ eye movements with eye-tracking technology as they scanned a Jackson Pollock painting. The eye movement trajectories, themselves, had a D score of 1.4, and were not related to the D score of the Pollock painting being observed. The authors suggest that fractal patterns with mid-range D scores of 1.5 have a ‘resonance’ with the brain’s own visual processing, which could con- tribute to the experience of perceptual fluency.  This match between the fractal dimensions of the image and the brain’s visual processing could account for aes- thetic preference (Taylor et  al. 2011). 7.2.4 Biophilia Hypothesis Biophilia is “the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms” (Wilson 1993, p.  31). This affiliation motivates humans to seek contact with animals, plants and landscapes (Sundli Tveit et  al. 2013). The Biophilia Hypothesis emphasises human beings’ positive response to nature, which can be manifest as a preference for specific animals, plants or environments (Hartig et  al. 2011). Defining features of the Biophilia Hypothesis are highlighted in Box 7.1. The Biophilia Hypothesis posits there is an innate, genetic basis for this affilia- tion with nature (Wilson 1984, 1993). Biological evolution is the process of con- tinuous genetic adaptation to the environment; organisms that are better suited to the environment have a higher survival rate, which gives a genetic advantage com- pared to organisms that are less suited to their environment. As such, person- environment interactions that have an adaptive value will be genetically retained (Wilson 1984, 1993). Genetic adaptation to the environment arises from behaviours learned through human-nature interactions (Wilson 1993). Interacting with nature results in learnt emotional responses, which can range from attraction to aversion, from peacefulness to anxiety (Wilson 1993). Behavioural responses, such as approaching or avoiding a stimulus, result from these emotions (Wilson 1993). Box 7.1: Defining Features of the Biophilia Hypothesis • Humans have an innate, emotional connection to life and life-like processes • This affinity motivates contact with animals, plants and natural landscapes • Emphasises positive responses to nature, manifest as preference for nature M. R. Marselle