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VIENNA, AUSTRIA – A groundbreaking neuroimaging study has revealed that simply viewing nature scenes can significantly reduce the perception of pain, offering a promising avenue for non-pharmacological pain management. Researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Exeter, in a study published in the journal Nature Communications, have demonstrated that nature exposure alters brain activity related to pain processing.
The study, involving 49 participants in Austria, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor brain activity while participants received mild electric shocks. Participants watched videos of various scenes: natural landscapes, urban environments, and indoor offices. The findings were striking: when participants viewed nature scenes, they reported experiencing less pain, and their brain scans showed a corresponding reduction in the neural responses associated with pain perception.
Utilizing advanced machine-learning techniques, the researchers analyzed brain networks related to pain processing. They discovered that the raw sensory signals the brain receives in response to pain were diminished when participants viewed high-quality, virtual nature scenes. This suggests that the pain-relieving effect is not merely a placebo effect, but a genuine physiological response.
“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,” explained Max Steininger, a Ph.D. student at the University of Vienna and lead author of the study. “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.”
While the pain-relieving effect observed was approximately half that of traditional painkillers, the researchers emphasize the potential for integrating nature exposure into 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 stated.
This research also sheds light on the long-observed healing potential of natural environments, famously highlighted in Roger Ulrich’s seminal study over 40 years ago, which showed that hospital patients with views of green spaces required less pain medication. The new findings provide a robust explanation for these earlier observations.
Dr. Alex Smalley, a co-author from the University of Exeter, highlighted the practicality of these findings, stating, “This study highlights how virtual encounters can bring the healing potential of nature to people when they can’t get outside. 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.”
The researchers believe that the ease of administering virtual nature exposure has significant implications for developing non-drug pain treatments and opens new avenues for further research into the impact of nature on the human mind.
More information: ‘Nature exposure induces analgesic effects by acting on nociception-related neural processing’, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56870-2
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the provided research information. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional for any medical advice or treatment. The findings of this study do not replace prescribed medical treatments, and individuals experiencing pain should continue to follow their doctor’s recommendations.
