The Restoration Effects of Exposure to Nature Via Virtual Reality (VR) on Well-Being, Self-Control Capacity, and Working Memory Capacity

In a preregistered study, 100 participants viewed VR-simulated nature and a non-immersive urban video (counterbalanced). Pre–post measures showed VR nature increased positive affect and self-control capacity and reduced negative affect versus urban control, but did not improve working memory capacity. VR nature may support restoration when real nature is inaccessible.