Short answer
Incorporate elements of natural, restorative environments, such as coastal walkways, into digital designs to promote user well-being and stress reduction.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Scientific Reports (2025)
- Method
- Laboratory experiment with physiological and subjective measurements.
- Sample
- 44 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Immersive virtual reality simulations of coastal landscapes can significantly reduce stress and improve psychological well-being by positively influencing physiological markers like heart rate variability and brain activity. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Scientific Reports. Using Laboratory experiment with physiological and subjective measurements. with 44 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate elements of natural, restorative environments, such as coastal walkways, into digital designs to promote user well-being and stress reduction.
Virtual coastal landscapes reduce stress by 28% through improved neural activity and autonomic balance
Immersive virtual reality simulations of coastal landscapes can significantly reduce stress and improve psychological well-being by positively influencing physiological markers like heart rate variability and brain activity.
Scientific Reports · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Virtual coastal landscapes significantly alleviate mood disturbances and enhance perceived recovery.
- 02Autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses showed significant improvement, indicating reduced stress.
- 03EEG findings revealed reduced brain energy consumption and increased alpha relative power, suggesting a more relaxed brain state.
- 04The virtual coastal walkway demonstrated the strongest restorative effect.
Application
Design takeaway
Incorporate elements of natural, restorative environments, such as coastal walkways, into digital designs to promote user well-being and stress reduction.
How to apply
When designing digital interfaces, applications, or virtual environments, consider incorporating visual and auditory elements inspired by restorative natural landscapes like coastlines. Test different compositions and features to identify those with the most significant positive impact on user mood and stress levels.
Project actions
- 01When designing a digital product, think about how the visual elements might affect the user's emotional state.
- 02Consider using calming imagery or interactive elements inspired by nature to improve user experience.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilized objective physiological measures (EEG, HRV) alongside subjective reports.
- +Investigated multiple types of restorative environments within a single study.
- +Introduced novel metrics (neural avalanche) for assessing brain states.
Limitations
The artificiality of a lab setting and the specific type of stressor used might not perfectly replicate real-world stress. The sample was limited to university students.
Reliability & validity
The use of established physiological measures like EEG and HRV, combined with subjective reports, enhances the study's validity. The sample size of 44 participants provides a reasonable basis for statistical analysis, contributing to reliability. However, the controlled laboratory setting might limit ecological validity.
Think critically
How might the novelty of virtual reality itself contribute to the observed stress reduction, independent of the coastal landscape features?
Design Principles
"Digital restorative environments should leverage naturalistic elements to positively influence user psychological and physiological states."
This research highlights the potential of digital environments to act as restorative spaces, offering designers opportunities to integrate nature-inspired elements into digital interfaces and experiences to mitigate user stress. Understanding these effects can inform the design of more psychologically supportive digital products and services.
What This Means for Your Design
Looking at pictures or virtual reality of nature, like beaches or coastal paths, can actually make you feel less stressed and more relaxed, both mentally and physically.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the psychological impact of visual design choices in your design project.
- 2.Use the findings to justify the inclusion of specific visual themes or elements aimed at user relaxation.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
Research indicates that immersive virtual environments depicting natural landscapes, such as coastal scenes, can significantly reduce user stress and improve psychological recovery. Physiological measurements, including heart rate variability and EEG, have shown that these virtual experiences lead to reduced autonomic nervous system activity and brain energy consumption, promoting a state of relaxation. Specifically, virtual coastal walkways have demonstrated a strong restorative effect, suggesting that the careful design of digital environments with nature-inspired elements can actively contribute to user well-being.
Source
Scientific Reports
The impact of virtual images of coastal landscape features on stress recovery based on EEG
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about virtual coastal landscapes reduce stress by 28% through improved neural activity and autonomic balance?
- Incorporate elements of natural, restorative environments, such as coastal walkways, into digital designs to promote user well-being and stress reduction. Evidence: Scientific Reports (2025).
- Why does "Virtual coastal landscapes reduce stress by 28% through improved neural activity and autonomic balance" matter for design?
- This research highlights the potential of digital environments to act as restorative spaces, offering designers opportunities to integrate nature-inspired elements into digital interfaces and experiences to mitigate user stress. Understanding these effects can inform the design of more psychologically supportive digital products and services.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Incorporate elements of natural, restorative environments, such as coastal walkways, into digital designs to promote user well-being and stress reduction.
- What were the main findings?
- Virtual coastal landscapes significantly alleviate mood disturbances and enhance perceived recovery.. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses showed significant improvement, indicating reduced stress.. EEG findings revealed reduced brain energy consumption and increased alpha relative power, suggesting a more relaxed brain state.. The virtual coastal walkway demonstrated the strongest restorative effect.
- What research method was used?
- Laboratory experiment with physiological and subjective measurements. with 44 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Scientific Reports.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing digital interfaces, applications, or virtual environments, consider incorporating visual and auditory elements inspired by restorative natural landscapes like coastlines. Test different compositions and features to identify those with the most significant positive impact on user mood and stress levels.
- What are the limitations?
- The study was conducted in a laboratory setting with university students, which may not fully generalize to real-world stress scenarios or diverse populations. The use of virtual reality may also introduce its own set of user experiences distinct from direct exposure to nature.