Nature Exposure Linked to Better Emotional and Brain Health

A new review finds that real, virtual, and imagined nature can help reduce negative emotions and support brain health.

Mind

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A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis examined 33 studies involving 2,101 people to explore how nature affects emotional well-being and brain activity. The studies covered several forms of exposure, including outdoor experiences, virtual reality, nature images, and imagined natural settings. Across the research, nature exposure was generally linked with fewer negative emotions and, in healthy people, more positive feelings as well. Neuroimaging methods such as EEG, fMRI, and fNIRS gave researchers a way to examine changes in brain activity alongside psychological measures. The evidence suggests that even simulated or imagined nature can produce useful emotional responses, which could matter for people who have limited access to parks or outdoor spaces. At the same time, the findings are not a reason to treat a picture of a forest as a universal replacement for being outdoors. The studies varied considerably, and the review noted methodological weaknesses in most of the research. Recent work on virtual nature has also reported improvements in mood and reductions in negative affect, while results for specific cognitive abilities are less consistent. The broader idea is that natural environments may be an important part of healthier urban design and mental well-being, but researchers still need stronger and more standardized studies to understand exactly how large and lasting these effects are.

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