Why we find Lake Michigan and other bodies of water peaceful

Between the lines: The late marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols wrote in his bestseller "Blue Mind" that being near water offers a "mildly meditative state … that takes advantage of the neurological connections formed over millennia."

Case in point: Less than two minutes of looking at water outdoors "is enough to activate the parasympathetic nervous system," and lower your blood pressure and heart rate, organizational psychologist Adam Grant writes, based on recent research.

• One possible explanation: "Since being attuned to visual cues for water helped our ancestors avoid dehydration, the mere sight of water can be a relief."

What they found: In a survey of people recuperating from heart surgery, those who viewed an open-water scene had lower anxiety levels and needed less pain medication than those who looked at an abstract design, a blank white panel or even a forest scene.

• In another study suggesting that natural environments reduce stress, researchers found that viewing an aquarium before oral surgery was more effective than hypnosis at inducing relaxation.