Scientists have found that nature shows improve well-being

Everyone knows that nature and communication with animals have a positive effect on a person and allow you to relax and cope with stress. But it turns out that the power of nature is so great that it is able to influence us even remotely. According to research, even watching nature on TV helps to improve mood and find inner balance. This is especially evident when using virtual reality technologies.

An unexpected discovery was made by scientists at the University of London in the UK. 96 volunteers over the age of 18, of different genders and professions participated in the experiment. The researchers tested the effect on a person of watching nature stories on TV and using virtual reality glasses.

The experiment took place in a specially equipped room where extraneous sounds do not penetrate. At the beginning, participants were shown a boring video about the intricacies of working in a stationery store. After the audience fell into a completely predictable melancholy, they were shown a five-minute program about life on coral reefs.

As a result, it became clear that nature stories help to quickly heal from boredom and get rid of negative emotions. It turned out that the way of viewing at the same time does not have a significant impact on a person — those who watched the video in a television format, three-dimensional and VR, equally got a good mood.

But at the same time, the use of virtual technology allowed the participants to immerse themselves more deeply in the spectacle and feel more closely connected with nature. Therefore, the video in VR format caused more positive emotions. At the same time, many respondents regretfully noted that bulky viewing equipment prevented them from fully enjoying the plot.

Summing up, the scientists noted that the effect of their experiment may be somewhat blurred. The fact is that the video about the stationery store might not seem boring to all participants. In addition, it is assumed that the video about life on the coral reef is very bright and spectacular, and a film about the nature of the middle belt or the north may not have such an obvious impact on the psyche.

The authors of the study specifically mentioned that their work is especially important now, when millions of people around the world are forced to abandon the usual rhythm of life and travel due to the coronavirus and spend most of their time at home, in front of a TV or computer monitor. One of the project managers, Dr. Niki Yeo, noted that technology can help people in hospitals and bedridden to become a little happier.