Research on visual nature exposure
What a growing body of research shows.
Embassy of Nature treats scientific findings as the basis of its work. They show that visual nature can be far more than an aesthetic design element.
The effect of visual nature on human well-being is one of the best-studied topics in environmental psychology. A growing body of research shows that photographic and filmic nature depictions can make a positive contribution to stress reduction, recovery, attention and well-being. The following overview deliberately distinguishes between findings on static nature images, nature films, virtual nature and real-nature experiences — as a prerequisite for scientifically sound and responsible communication.
Stress reduction
Physiological recovery after strain.
Several experimental studies show that even viewing nature images or nature films can accelerate recovery after a stress load. Observed effects include a lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, reduced muscle tension as well as changes in heart-rate variability and other physiological stress markers. Selected sources: Ulrich et al. 1991 · Brown et al. 2013 · Benz et al. 2022 · Grassini et al. 2022 · Mizumoto et al. 2025.
Attention & cognition
Concentration and mental performance.
Studies show that even photographic nature depictions can improve attention, concentration and mental performance. These findings are an important reference point for work environments, learning spaces and other interiors with high cognitive demands. Selected sources: Berman, Jonides & Kaplan 2008 · Rhee et al. 2023 · Kaplan & Kaplan 1989 · Kaplan 1995.
Emotional effect
Positive emotions, less tension.
Since the work of Roger S. Ulrich, it has been considered well established that nature depictions foster positive emotions while reducing feelings of stress, anxiety and tension. Even comparatively simple landscape depictions consistently show more favourable emotional effects than urban motifs. Selected sources: Ulrich 1979 · Ulrich 1981 · Hartig et al. 1996 · Ulrich et al. 1991.
Evidence from healthcare
The best-studied use case.
Research in healthcare is particularly extensive. Studies from hospitals and psychiatric facilities show that nature images can be associated with lower anxiety, less agitation and a reduced need for strong painkillers. Moreover, nature motifs are rated far more positively by patients than abstract art. Selected sources: Ulrich 1984 · Ulrich et al. 1998 · Nanda et al. 2011 · Nanda et al. 2012 · Monti et al. 2012.
New research
How nature affects us.
Scientific development continues. Recent studies examine, among other things, brain activity, heart-rate variability and even the processing of pain when viewing nature videos (Steininger et al. 2025). Several meta-analyses of virtual and real nature confirm the positive effects on well-being and stress reduction. Selected sources: Steininger et al. 2025 · McDonnell et al. 2025 · Mizumoto et al. 2025 · Hubbard et al. 2025 · Fan et al. 2024 · Spano et al. 2023.
For your spaces
What the research means for your spaces.
The body of research shows that visual nature can make a positive contribution above all where people use interiors over longer periods. The evidence is best studied in healthcare and in the area of cognitive performance: for hospitals, practices and care facilities as well as office and new-work environments, design with photographic and filmic fine-art nature documentations can connect directly to scientific findings. In hospitality and common areas, the research complements design planning with a scientific perspective without replacing it.
Whitepaper
The scientific research overview as a PDF.
Our whitepaper concisely summarises the current state of research on the effect of visual nature exposure: the underlying mechanisms, key studies from healthcare, the workplace and environmental psychology, and a transparent classification of the different forms of nature exposure — from real nature and photographic and filmic fine-art nature documentations to virtual nature.
Download the research overviewFree · no form required · PDF
Sources
Sources (selection)
- Kaplan & Kaplan 1989
- Kaplan 1995
- Ulrich 1979
- Ulrich 1981
- Ulrich 1983
- Ulrich 1984
- Ulrich et al. 1991
- Ulrich et al. 1998
- Hartig et al. 1996
- Nanda et al. 2011
- Nanda et al. 2012
- Monti et al. 2012
- Berman, Jonides & Kaplan 2008
- Brown et al. 2013
- Rhee et al. 2023
- Benz et al. 2022
- Grassini et al. 2022
- Mizumoto et al. 2025
- McDonnell et al. 2025
- Steininger et al. 2025
- Hubbard et al. 2025
- Fan et al. 2024
- Spano et al. 2023
Framing the body of evidence
The studies listed examine different forms of experiencing nature — including real nature, nature videos and virtual environments. Their findings partly match our own personal experience and were an important impulse for founding Embassy of Nature. They cannot, however, be transferred directly to our own films and photographs and therefore do not constitute scientific proof of efficacy for our offering.
Next step
Translating research into design.
We discuss which areas of your property lean on evidence and which on atmosphere — and recommend the right edition with fitting visual worlds.