Alright, time to start walking. I think I will head through Schenley Park to start.
Walking has always been a stress reliever for me. While any kind of exercise has clear health benefits, walking is special in that it allows the mind to concern itself with something, anything else. In her book Wanderlust, Rebecca Solnit beautifully notes that “The rhythm of walking generates a kind of rhythm of thinking, and the passage through a landscape echoes or stimulates the passage through a series of thoughts” (5-6). Our current understanding of biomedical science reveals that the human body is quite literally designed with this idea in mind. In essence, just as you wander, so do your thoughts.
I love stepping on the fallen leaves. *crunch* *crunch*
As a neuroscience researcher, I am inclined to think about this idea in terms of how the nervous system actually functions. Walking really does facilitate deep thought, and there is a neurological basis as to why. First the prefrontal cortex (you, essentially) decides to start walking, and it sends over this command to the primary motor cortex through electrical impulses. This area then integrates countless bits of information about spatial position, surroundings, and more to properly initiate walking. Once this pathway has caused the body to take its first few steps, the rhythmic motor behavior of walking no longer requires much if any input from centers higher than the brainstem. From here, a central pattern generator in the spinal cord keeps the rhythm of walking going, and no conscious effort is required to continue moving. Most of the parts of your brain that are utilized for cognition, emotion, and sensation are unoccupied during a long walk. The presence of a central pattern generator in human bodies corroborates the intuitive notion that wandering through physical space does not preclude one’s ability to wander through mental space.
THWACK!
Well I guess I am somewhere in the Bob O’Connor Golf Course now. I think I’ll exit the park onto Forbes Avenue.
Throughout all my walks in the city of Pittsburgh, the neighborhood of Squirrel Hill has always stuck out to me as a place particularly well-suited for wandering. Just as your body’s nervous system is naturally designed for thinking while walking, so is Squirrel Hill. See, the neighborhood stands out as an unusually flat area within Pittsburgh, a city notorious for its hilly landscape. Additionally, Squirrel Hill has numerous wide and accessible sidewalks, facilitating easy pedestrian movement in the area. Further, there are numerous points of interest for walkers, as the neighborhood is lined with rows of shops, restaurants, and religious and educational institutions. Finally, the residents of Squirrel Hill themselves foster a community of both acceptance and active engagement; in her 2020 essay “Here is Squirrel Hill,” writer Molly Pascal put it best when she said “To live here requires participation, whether you like it or not” (12). All in all, the topography, urban design, and people of Squirrel Hill make it an ideal place to wander around and get lost in thought.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
Ugh, why does the Forbes and Murray crosswalk have such loud beeps?
As I am continuing on my walk, another brain structure works in the background on a variety of tasks: the Basal Ganglia. This structure, located deep in each cerebral hemisphere, is the subject of much ongoing research, as scientists still are not entirely sure of its exact function. The popular theory tells that the Basal Ganglia has three functional loops: one for sensorimotor processing to integrate perception and movement, one for emotion to control motivated behaviors, and one for association to aid in cognition.
Dang it, I just missed the walk signal. Guess I will have to wait at the intersection.
Just before I crossed Murray Avenue, I stood in front of the Rite Aid on the corner, looking out onto the other three nodes of the intersection. From my vantage point I could see Sixth Presbyterian Church, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Squirrel Hill, and Cold Stone Creamery. In my mind, these three institutions do a masterful job in representing three core values of Squirrel Hill: religion, education, and cuisine. Just like the three loops of the Basal Ganglia assist in neurological function, these three loops of Squirrel Hill create and sustain a vibrant culture that is omnipresent through my walk in the community.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
Finally, I can cross. Oh my, Uncle Sam’s Sandwich Bar smells particularly delectable today. I have to go in and get my favorite cheesesteak in the city.
As I wait for my sub, I consider the sheer amount of diversity present in Squirrel Hill’s food scene. Just from the window of the classic old-timey sub shop I am standing in, I can see several restaurants, including Thai & Noodle Outlet, Turkish Kebab House, and Commonplace Coffee, each occupying a different niche in the market. Like the sensorimotor loop in the Basal Ganglia, the food offered by these establishments not only aids in fueling movement and bodily function, but it also elucidates a rich sensory experience through taste.
Well, Uncle Sam did it again! With my new energy from my meal, I think I will continue down Forbes Avenue. On second thought, I think I will turn down Shady Avenue and go toward Squirrel Hill North.
As I keep walking, I pass by the Tree of Life Congregation. On a national scale, this place of worship is most well-known for being the site of an anti-Semitic mass shooting in October 2018. However, local residents view the synagogue as a symbol not of the divisiveness that motivated the massacre, but rather as one of the diversity, acceptance, and unity of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Over a dozen synagogues are present in this neighborhood alone, and these institutions serve as cultural centers for the entire community. Additionally, Squirrel Hill has significant populations of Christians and other religions, making it a place that is well set-up to explore both the coexistence and intersectionality of religion. Analogous to the emotional loop of the Basal Ganglia, these places of worship elicit such strong spiritual experiences of the members that it can shape their psyches for their entire lives.
I should probably start to head back to my home in Oakland now. I think I will turn onto Wilkins Avenue.
As I see a black sign inscribed with the words “Chatham University,” I think about the sheer amount of educational institutions in Squirrel Hill and the surrounding area. Residents of the neighborhood can easily walk to Chatham University, Carnegie Mellon University, or even the University of Pittsburgh. Further, there are numerous high schools in Squirrel Hill, including Central Catholic High School and Taylor Allderdice High School. Additionally, numerous community education centers like the aforementioned Carnegie Library of Squirrel Hill and the Jewish Community Center serve the area. The inclusion of so many opportunities to learn and grow is reflective of the community’s strong emphasis on education. Many residents of the area either attend or work at the many schools, making the institutions a significant part of countless lives. The educational opportunities in Squirrel Hill aid in facilitating thought and study for residents of all walks of life. This notion draws a clear parallel with the cognitive loop of the Basal Ganglia in that both the neural circuit and the neighborhood promote clear and meaningful thought.
Okay I am back on Fifth Avenue. Almost to Oakland!
As I exit Squirrel Hill, I cannot help but think back to how my brain operated throughout the walk. Specifically, as I thought about the three loops of Squirrel Hill, the three loops of my Basal Ganglia were also active. The sensorimotor loop worked to take accessory information about my surroundings and incorporate them into my walk, so I would best know how to properly move through the space. The association loop worked to initiate many of the thoughts in my consciousness; for example, seeing the Tree of Life congregation drew thoughts of the cohesiveness and supportiveness of the Squirrel Hill community. Finally, the smell of Uncle Sam’s Subs started up the emotional loop and motivated me to stop for a bite.
Ultimately, the design of Squirrel Hill plays off of the central pattern generator that is innate to the human spinal cord, facilitating the mind to wander just as the body does. This property allows higher brain centers to work together to immerse the mind in the unique culture of Squirrel Hill, making a trip through the neighborhood a truly special experience.
The idea of the central pattern generator is best experienced by the individual when walking through Squirrel Hill. The neighborhood itself provides the perfect terrain for both physically walking and mentally wandering. Thus, while my spinal cord navigated Squirrel Hill, my conscious brain, effectively cut off from the labor of moving the body, still felt the calling to wander. It is in these moments where I experience the truest form of contemplation.
Works Cited
Pascal, Molly. “Here Is Squirrel Hill.” Bound in the Bond of Life, 27 Oct. 2020, pp. 9–20.
Solnit, Rebecca. Wanderlust: A History of Walking. Penguin Books, 2001.