A new study has found that just looking at nature can reduce pain by altering brain activity.
Researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Exeter used brain scans to show that people experience less pain when viewing natural scenes compared to urban or indoor settings.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, provide new evidence for non-drug pain management.
Researchers used functional MRI (fMRI) scans to observe the brain activity of 49 participants in Austria who were exposed to mild electric shocks while watching different types of videos.
When viewing natural landscapes compared to urban or indoor environments, participants not only reported feeling less pain, but brain scans showed reduced neural responses to pain.
“Numerous studies have shown that people consistently report feeling less pain when exposed to nature. Yet until now, the underlying reasons for this effect were unclear,” said lead author Max Steininger, a PhD student at the University of Vienna.
“Our study is the first to provide evidence from brain scans that this isn’t just a ‘placebo’ effect – driven by people’s beliefs and expectations that nature is good for them – instead, the brain is reacting less to information about where the pain is coming from and how intense it feels.”
Advanced machine-learning techniques were used to analyze brain networks related to pain processing.
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The study confirmed that exposure to nature diminishes the brain’s raw sensory signals related to pain, providing the first clear explanation of how natural environments can influence neural responses to discomfort.
The research builds on a pioneering 1980s study by American scientist Roger Ulrich, who found that hospital patients with views of green spaces recovered faster and required fewer painkillers than those facing a brick wall.
Despite decades of research, the underlying neurological mechanisms of this phenomenon had remained elusive – until now.
The study also highlights the potential benefits of virtual nature exposure. Coauthor Dr. Alex Smalley from the University of Exeter concluded: “This study highlights how virtual encounters can bring the healing potential of nature to people when they can’t get outside.
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“But we hope our results also serve as renewed evidence for the importance of protecting healthy and functioning natural environments, encouraging people to spend time in nature for the benefit of both the planet and people.”
While the pain-relieving effect of nature was found to be significantly less than that of traditional painkillers, researchers believe it could still play a crucial role in pain management strategies.
“People in pain should certainly continue taking any medication they have been prescribed. But we hope in future alternative ways of relieving pain, such as experiencing nature, may be used to help improve pain management,” Steininger added.
The findings open new doors for research into nature’s impact on mental and physical health, providing an accessible and non-invasive approach to pain relief.
