Study Finds Viewing Nature Scenes Reduces Pain by Altering Brain Activity

Researchers discovered that exposure to natural environments, even virtually, decreases pain-related brain activity and reduces perceived pain intensity.

An international study led by the University of Vienna found that viewing natural scenes reduces activity in brain regions associated with pain processing.
Participants reported less intense and unpleasant pain when exposed to virtual nature compared to urban or indoor scenes during controlled experiments involving electric shocks.
Brain scans revealed that nature exposure alters how the brain processes early sensory pain signals, distinguishing its effects from placebo responses.
The pain-relieving effects of nature were found to be about half as effective as standard painkillers, offering potential as a complementary pain management strategy.
Researchers highlighted the practical applications of virtual nature in healthcare settings, providing accessible, non-drug pain relief for patients unable to access outdoor environments.