The nature gaze: Eye-tracking experiment reveals well-being benefits derived from directing visual attention towards elements of nature

Past studies have shown that an urban lifestyle can be linked to long-term stress and mental fatigue, raising the risk of depression and anxiety. In contrast, exposure to nature has demonstrated reverse effects, benefiting mental health, cognitive performance, and attention. The goal of Fleming et. al.’s study was to understand how visual attention to natural elements improves mental health, and how much of an interaction with nature is needed to get the largest benefits.

Their study was conducted using people in urban settings, separated into 3 groups of 39 people. The “gray” group, only looking at man-made structures, the “green” group, only looking at natural elements, and the “mixed” group, which looked at both. Eye movements in the form of fixation and saccades (fixations while moving) were measured using mobile outdoor eye-tracking technology in the form of glasses was used in this study during a 45-minute walking period through landscapes with mostly man-made or natural structures, or an assortment. There were 10 points throughout the participants’ routes that they were instructed to fixate on.

With this study, the researchers were able to direct attention to natural elements effects the experience of them, how the length of time spent with nature effects the impact on mental health, and how an increase in attention to nature influences mental and cognitive health.

Anxiety levels were determined using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which assess momentary and general anxiety levels. Cognitive ability was tested with the Necker Cube Change Pattern Change Detection Task, which challenges attention.

Fleming, Rizowy, and Shwartz found that both the environment and time spent in it impacted positive affect (beneficial to mental health) and STAI score, with the green group having higher positive affect results after their walk as opposed to before. The green and mixed groups reported less negative affect (detriments to mental health) after the walk, and the grey group reported no change in affect. The green and mixed groups had lower STAI state scores after their walk compared with before. The green group also experienced the highest level of perceived restorativeness, followed by the mixed and grey groups. NCPCT scores were lower in people that had grown up in medium or large size cities. 

The STAI scores and perceived restoritiveness in individuals in the testing groups were directly correlated with the percentage of time focused on green or grey elements, with the percentage of time spent fixated on green elements decreased state anxiety and grey elements increased it. Similarly, more time spent fixated on green elements increased perceived restorativeness, while fixation on grey elements decreased it. Neither age nor cloud cover demonstrated a relationship with STAI scores. Gender did not demonstrate a relationship with positive a negative affect.  

The authors concluded that more fixation on natural elements has a greater positive affect than fixation on man-made structures.  Trees were the strongest predictor of increased perceived restorativenes, followed by lawns and bushes, possibly due to a perceived association between trees and greater benefits than other natural elements. This suggests that planting more trees in urban ecosystems could provide greater positive affect benefits for residents. Unlike previous studies, they did not find a link between gaze behavior and a reduction in cognitive effort for attention recovery. They found a slightly significant difference in attention performance in the mixed group, whose attention was not directed to particular elements.  

Fleming et. al. suggest that more natural spaces should be implemented in cities in a way that encourages people to look at and interact with them. These spaces should include a greater amount of green elements, specifically trees, bushes, and lawns.  

This study was limited by delays, which caused it to span 9 months. Additionally, environmental factors that could not be controlled like, noises and smells could have impacted the affect tests. The glasses used to track eye movements struggled in bright light, humidity, warm conditions (above 82 degrees) and sudden or fast head movements. These were mitigated by adjusting start times of the walks due to walks, having participants were baseball caps, and telling them to look directly through the lens. Further studies could reduce the time of data collection and use headphones against noise.