Immerse yourself in natural landscapeseven if only virtually, helps reduce the perception of pain: this is the conclusion to which a study published on Nature Communicationswhich confirms what has been discovered by several studies – the link between nature and reduction of pain – offering a scientific explanation of the phenomenon for the first time e laying the foundations for new types of non -pharmacological therapies against pain.
Reduced pain. The study planned to monitor the brain activity of the participants while they received small electric shocks: when they observed videos of natural scenes, they all reported feeling less pain than when they watched videos of citizens or offices – and this perception was confirmed by magnetic resonanceswhich highlighted one reduction in the sensory signals that the brain receives when the body hurts.
Not a placebo. «Our study is the first to demonstrate with magnetic resonances that the fact that people perceive less pain when they are exposed to nature it is not due to a placebo effect»Explains Max Steininger, research coordinator.
The healing effect of nature is equal to approximately half of that of the painkillersso observing landscapes will certainly not replace the intake of drugs; However, a study conducted forty years ago by Roger Ulrich had highlighted that patients hospitalized in a room overlooking a green space needed less pain relievers and healed more quickly than those whose window gave a brick wall.
“We hope that the results of our study are further proof to support the importance of protecting natural environments and encouraging people to spend time in nature,” concludes Alex Lontery, one of the authors.
