Nature images are more visually engaging than urban images: evidence from neural oscillations in the brain

Introduction: Attention Restoration Theory (ART) proposes that urban environments place high demands on attention, leading to fatigue, whereas natural environments engage attention effortlessly, enabling recovery. The neural mechanisms underlying these differential attentional demands are not well understood. This study used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine attention-related brain activity while participants viewed images of nature versus urban environments. Methods: In a between-subjects design, 58 participants viewed 10 minutes of either nature or urban images during EEG recording. Frequency-domain measures were extracted to quantify parietal alpha power (visual engagement; 8–12 Hz at Pz) and frontal theta power (cognitive demand; 4–8 Hz at Cz). Results: Nature-image viewers showed significantly lower parietal alpha power than urban-image viewers (indicating greater visual engagement). Frontal theta power was numerically lower during nature viewing but not statistically significant, suggesting a trend toward lower cognitive demand. Participants rated nature images as more restorative on the Perceived Restorativeness Scale. Discussion: Findings indicate that natural scenes are visually engaging without imposing high cognitive demand, supporting ART’s proposition that nature involves ‘soft fascination’ and allows effortful attention to rest and recover.

Amy S. McDonnell, Sara B. LoTemplio, Emily E. Scott, David L. Strayer