New research has been carried out by researchers from the universities of Exeter and Vienna
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Neil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle) and Liam Ryder Digital Production Editor
16:17, 13 Mar 2025
Blonde mature woman wearing eyeglasses and grey coat sits comfortably on wooden park bench while recording video or taking photos on her smartphone. She appears cheerful and engaged with her device during a spring day surrounded by green trees. Her relaxed posture and gentle smile suggest she's enjoying her leisure time outdoors.
The study revealed the effect on those suffering pain while watching a particular kind of videos(Image: rbkomar via Getty Images)
New research has suggested an unusual approach to managing pain - and amazingly it is half as effective as taking actual painkillers. A study using brain scans found that pain perception decreased when participants were shown a certain kind of video. Participants reported reduced pain levels while viewing them, which was backed up by the brain scans.
The positive effects of being amongst nature on our health has been widely recognised for years. But the study reveals that watching videos of natural environments, compared to urban or office settings, can also reduce pain levels.
The study, conducted by researchers from the universities of Exeter and Vienna, involved 49 participants who received mild electric shocks while viewing different types of videos. Lead author Max Steininger, a PhD student at the University of Vienna, stated: "Numerous studies have shown that people consistently report feeling less pain when exposed to nature.
"Yet until now, the underlying reasons for this effect were unclear. Our study is the first to provide evidence from brain scans that this isn't just a 'placebo' effect – driven by people's beliefs and expectations that nature is good for them – instead, the brain is reacting less to information about where the pain is coming from and how intense it feels."
The findings suggest that exposure to nature could be a viable alternative for pain management, with effects comparable to those of painkillers, albeit at a lower level. Mr Steininger, in the findings published in Nature Communications, suggested that "the pain-relieving effect of nature is genuine" although its impact was about half that of painkillers, reports Bristol Live.
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He added: ""People in pain should certainly continue taking any medication they have been prescribed. But we hope in future alternative ways of relieving pain, such as experiencing nature, may be used to help improve pain management."
Dr Alex Smalley from the University of Exeter echoed these sentiments, stating: "This study highlights how virtual encounters can bring the healing potential of nature to people when they can't get outside. But we hope our results also serve as renewed evidence for the importance of protecting healthy and functioning natural environments, encouraging people to spend time in nature for the benefit of both the planet and people."
He further added: "The fact that this pain-relieving effect can be achieved through a virtual nature exposure which is easy to administer has important practical implications for non-drug treatments, and opens new avenues for research to better understand how nature impacts our minds."