The Leviss Lab @ BCR — Ocean and the Brain: Connections Between the Watery World and the Mind
Some days are tough. You feel a little overwhelmed. School work, your job, friendships, family responsibilities have your plate full and overflowing. Take a second and imagine you’re at the beach — warm sand between your toes, clear blue water lapping along the shore, sun warming your back, kites flying high, seashells, sand castles, salty air, surfing, swimming. Hopefully you feel at least a little bit relaxed now. But why? What makes the ocean so universally calming? Why are people drawn to the sand and sea in the first place?
The brain-ocean connection can be approached from chemical, psychological, evolutionary, and societal perspectives.
Popular theories on the origin of life on Earth involves some kind of wet substance, be it primordial soup, hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean, or slimy mud. From a chemical perspective, in all 3 scenarios, mineral salts are a component. Water covers about 70% of Earth’s surface and saltwater makes up 97.5% of Earth’s water. Sodium and chloride, the ions in table salt, make up 90% of dissolved ions in the ocean. In the human body, water accounts for between 50 and 60%. In the brain, it makes up about 80%. Sodium, chloride, and other ions are present in body fluid like blood and sweat. Ions carry an electrical charge and play an important role in the brain. The flow and concentration of sodium, chloride, potassium, and other charged species cause neurons to fire in the brain.
For some scientists, the saltwater similarity between Earth’s oceans and the brain is no coincidence. There’s a small, but growing desire to study neuroscience and the ocean. At the forefront is Wallace J. Nichols, a sea turtle biologist and research associate at California Academy of Sciences. A few years ago in 2011, he launched the Blue Mind Summit, an annual gathering of neuroscientists, psychologists, conservationists, biologists, and artists to discuss humanity’s interaction with our watery planet.
From a psychological perspective, the ocean has many calming qualities. It’s flat horizon, the comforting presence of water, the repetition of wave sounds, the smoothness of the ocean’s surface. At the first Blue Mind Summit, Michael Merzenich, an emeritus professor of neuroscience at UC San Francisco likened the calmness of the ocean’s smooth, landmark-free surface to the calmness of closing your eyes. In the flat horizons of oceans, there’s an appealing sense of safety being able to spot oncoming threats and having abundant access to water.
It’s no secret that ocean waves are popular sounds in meditation music. A London-based yoga and meditation teacher Alexandra Borrelli shared with New Scientist her theory about the connection between meditation and ocean waves. She describes the repetition of crashing waves as “relentless” and “reassuring.” Borrelli says “the waves remind us of our breath, and they never stop.” There’s a great body of research studying the science of music and the brain, but not much on the sounds of the ocean and the brain, Nichols hopes to change that with his Blue Mind Summit.
From agriculture to transportation, weather to health, water has played a crucial role in the rise of civilization. The UN puts the portion of the world’s population living within 60 miles of the coast at 40%. But our waters, oceans, and marine ecosystems are in peril from oil pollution, marine debris, sewage contamination, loss of wetlands, overfishing, rising temperatures, and more. Nichols, a self-described neuroconservationist, believes being more mindful of humanity’s connection to the ocean will increase the drive to save the oceans. The more fond we are of something, the more willing we are to save and protect it.
Now that you’ve got ocean on the brain, you don’t have to leave the county to see it. Old Bridge and Perth Amboy are the closest you can get to the Atlantic Ocean in Middlesex County. Or visit the Jersey Shore’s beaches and boardwalks in Asbury Park, Point Pleasant, or Long Beach Island. Up for a longer trip? Take a drive to the southernmost point of New Jersey — Wildwood and Cape May.
Blog Bonus: Where are the best Jersey Shore beaches close to Middlesex County?
Whether you’re looking to relax on a family-friendly beach, stroll the boardwalk, or indulge in some retail therapy, New Jersey has the right beach for you. New Jersey Monthly recommends Asbury Park and Cape May for best dining options, Long Branch for beach shopping, and Island Beach State Park for pet-friendly. For more Jersey Shore ideas, check out New Jersey Monthly’s 20 Best Beaches recommendations.
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Author’s Note: This is a companion piece to The Leviss Lab @ BCR’s episode on ocean and the brain. Hosted by Dani Leviss, the 5-minute radio program spins a science take on everyday topics like roller coasters, pollinators, and riptides. Tune in Mondays at noon and Fridays at 5p.m. on Middlesex County College’s Blue Colt Radio. Download the station’s app or stream live.
