A new study has revealed that exposure to nature improves the mental development of young children.

The study found that playing in patches of grass, trees and playgrounds is important for children's physical health.

The study also found that the green spaces improve the progress of superior working memory, which is the ability to update memories with changing information by 6% and reduced inattentiveness.

The study was led by Dr. Payam Dadvand from the Centre for Research and Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona. For the study, mental performance tests were conducted on 2,593 children aged seven to 10 attending 36 primary schools in Barcelona every three months.

The findings revealed that overall working memory increased by an average of 22.8%, and superior working memory by 15.2%, while inattentiveness decreased by 18.9%.

The study authors wrote, "The brain develops steadily during prenatal and early post-natal periods, which are considered as the most vulnerable window for effects of environmental exposure".

According to the researchers, there are many theories about why green spaces may have beneficial cognitive effects.

Natural environments provide children with unique opportunities such as inciting engagement, risk taking, discovery, creativity, mastery and control, strengthening sense of self, inspiring basic emotional states including sense of wonder, and enhancing psychological restoration.

Although previous research also has link between green space and mental and physical health, this is the first study, which suggested that exposure to green spaces helps to improve mental health. However, the research is still in early stages and requires further work to confirm it.

Exposure to green spaces was assessed with the help of satellite images. The scientists applied a measurement called Normalised Difference Vegetation Index based on the reflective properties of land.