Fractal Patterns, Nature and Alpha Waves

Written By Hugh Asher

First Published 10th July 2022
Last Updated 2nd December 2023

Many people instinctively know that being outside and viewing nature is good for us. But whilst we appreciate the benefits of nature and understand that becoming better connected with nature is good for us, we don’t always have the same understanding of why nature connection is beneficial. One explanation provided is that nature is full of fractals and so humans evolved looking at fractal patterns in nature, and consequently we are hardwired to process this visual information very quickly.

Fern Frond

The shape of a fern frond is repeated in the side stem and then repeated in each individual leaf on the stem.

Research has shown that when people view naturally occurring fractals in nature, it increases the alpha brainwave activity in their brain. Alpha waves are produced when people are relaxed and they are linked to physiological health benefits, and these benefits can be measured even when fractal patterns are only viewed for a short period of time. Alpha waves also have a positive effect on concentration and attention span. This might account for why Kaplan and Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory suggests that spending time in nature, and around naturally-occurring fractals, can have such a uniquely restorative effect on us, both cognitively and mentally.

What are Fractals?

The term ‘fractal’ was first used by Benoit Mandelbrot in 1975, upon discovering that simple mathematic rules apply to a vast array of patterns in nature that looked otherwise visually complex or chaotic.

A fractal is a pattern that is repeated at different levels and you can find fractal patterns throughout nature such as in plants, trees, clouds, rivers, and snow flakes. Fractals are also present in art, technology, and architecture. You can even find fractals in your body in your vein structure, your nerve pathways, the bronchial tree in your lungs, and the structure of the neurons in your brain.

The significance of fractals lies in their efficiency and effectiveness in optimising natural systems. Nature utilises fractal patterns to maximise surface area, facilitate efficient transport of nutrients and fluids, and optimise structural strength while minimising material use. Because they are so common in nature, it has been suggested that our brains are actually pre-wired to positively respond to them, and viewing fractal patterns has been shown to alter the way that the brain functions and the patterns of brain waves that are produced.

Fractals in Art

Jackson Pollock, a pioneer of abstract expressionism, revolutionised the art scene with his unconventional technique known as drip painting. His canvases, such as “Autumn Rhythm”, "Number 1 (Lavender Mist)" and "Convergence", are not just chaotic explosions of colour; they are intricate tapestries revealing unexpected connections to the fractal beauty found in the natural world. The intricate web of lines, splashes, and drips in Pollock's paintings resonate with the complexity of fractal geometry. Just as fractals exhibit self-similarity when zoomed in or out, Pollock's canvases reveal detailed patterns regardless of the viewing distance, inviting the viewer to explore the depth within the chaos. You can read more in this article that we have written on “Jackson Pollock: Bridging the Gap Between Fractals, Natural Patterns and Paint”.

What are Brain Waves?

Brain waves are rhythmic electric impulses that are produced in different parts of the brain and alter depending on the activities that person is undertaking. There are a variety of different brain waves (Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Theta) but two are most important here:

Alpha Waves

In healthy adults Alpha Wave activity occurs most commonly while they are resting but awake, and increase when the eyes are closed. They do not occur during sleep and start to disappear when the person begins concentrating on a specific task, being replaced by a corresponding increase in Beta Wave activity.

Beta Waves

Beta Wave activity replaces alpha waves during when focussing on tasks, while concentrating, or when a person is under stress or experiencing psychological tension. Looking at Fractal patterns has been shown to reduce Beta Wave activity and increase Alpha Wave activity.

Fractals and Stress Levels

Stress and stress-related diseases are seen as a major contributor to poor health in the modern world and it is recognised that stress increases the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma, as well as making them worse in people experiencing them. Consequently there is a great deal of research undertaken into how to reduce stress and stress-related diseases, and especially how this can be achieved with minimal medication. Researchers have found that looking at fractals can reduce stress levels by 60% supporting the theory that fractals activate the areas of the brain that are responsible for regulating stress. Since prolonged exposure to stress is detrimental to our mood, productivity, and wellbeing, even a short session of looking at fractals can be beneficial. Plus, the effects are almost instant.

Fractal Complexity

As discussed previously, a fractal consist of a pattern that repeats on a finer and finer scale scale. Mandelbrot also defined an important parameter for measuring the complexity of fractals, the fractal dimension or D to describe how fractals appearing at different magnifications combine to build the resulting shape and form. The value of D lies between 1 and 2 with an increase in complexity resulting in an increased D. Fractals with a D value between 1.3 and 1.5 being the most prevalent in nature, and also the most visually appealing. I cannot seem to find the D value for Romanesco Broccoli unfortunately.

Romanesco Broccoli

One of my favourite fractals in nature is found in Romanesco Broccoli.

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Hugh Asher

I’m Hugh and I’m a Certified Forest Bathing Guide and Forest Therapy Practitioner, having trained with the Forest Therapy Institute and the Forest Therapy Hub. My purpose in life is to inspire people to improve their wellbeing, and to help people to help and inspire others to improve their wellbeing. I do this through promoting greater nature connection as I am a passionate believer in the benefits to health and wellbeing that nature and increased connection to nature can bring.

Professionally, I have worked for over twenty years supporting people experiencing: mental health problems; autism; learning disabilities; school exclusion; experience of the care system; and a history of offending behaviour. Currently I am the ‘Recovery Through Nature Lead’ in a residential rehab for people experiencing drug and alcohol problems.

I have a PhD in Therapeutic Relationships, but Dr. Hugh makes me sound too much like a Time Lord.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-asher/
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