Virtual nature environment with nature sound exposure induce stress recovery by enhanced parasympathetic activity

Matilda Annerstedt; Peter Jönsson; Mattias Wallergård; Gerd Johansson; Björn Karlson; Patrik Grahn; Åse Marie Hansen; Peter Währborg

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.023

Virtual nature environment with nature sound exposure induce stress recovery by enhanced parasympathetic activity

Matilda Annerstedt, Peter Jönsson, Mattias Wallergård, Gerd Johansson, Björn Karlson, Patrik Grahn, Åse Marie Hansen, Peter Währborg

212 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Experimental research on stress recovery in natural environments is limited, as is study of the effect of sounds of nature. After inducing stress by means of a virtual stress test, we explored physiological recovery in two different virtual natural environments (with and without exposure to sounds of nature) and in one control condition. Cardiovascular data and saliva cortisol were collected. Repeated ANOVA measurements indicated parasympathetic activation in the group subjected to sounds of nature in a virtual natural environment, suggesting enhanced stress recovery may occur in such surroundings. The group that recovered in virtual nature without sound and the control group displayed no particular autonomic activation or deactivation. The results demonstrate a potential mechanistic link between nature, the sounds of nature, and stress recovery, and suggest the potential importance of virtual reality as a tool in this research field.

Original language	English
Journal	Physiology & Behavior
Volume	118
Pages (from-to)	240-50
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0031-9384
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.023
Publication status	Published - 13 Jun 2013

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title = "Virtual nature environment with nature sound exposure induce stress recovery by enhanced parasympathetic activity",

abstract = "Experimental research on stress recovery in natural environments is limited, as is study of the effect of sounds of nature. After inducing stress by means of a virtual stress test, we explored physiological recovery in two different virtual natural environments (with and without exposure to sounds of nature) and in one control condition. Cardiovascular data and saliva cortisol were collected. Repeated ANOVA measurements indicated parasympathetic activation in the group subjected to sounds of nature in a virtual natural environment, suggesting enhanced stress recovery may occur in such surroundings. The group that recovered in virtual nature without sound and the control group displayed no particular autonomic activation or deactivation. The results demonstrate a potential mechanistic link between nature, the sounds of nature, and stress recovery, and suggest the potential importance of virtual reality as a tool in this research field.",

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T1 - Virtual nature environment with nature sound exposure induce stress recovery by enhanced parasympathetic activity

AU - Annerstedt, Matilda

AU - Jönsson, Peter

AU - Wallergård, Mattias

AU - Johansson, Gerd

AU - Karlson, Björn

AU - Grahn, Patrik

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Währborg, Peter

PY - 2013/6/13

Y1 - 2013/6/13

N2 - Experimental research on stress recovery in natural environments is limited, as is study of the effect of sounds of nature. After inducing stress by means of a virtual stress test, we explored physiological recovery in two different virtual natural environments (with and without exposure to sounds of nature) and in one control condition. Cardiovascular data and saliva cortisol were collected. Repeated ANOVA measurements indicated parasympathetic activation in the group subjected to sounds of nature in a virtual natural environment, suggesting enhanced stress recovery may occur in such surroundings. The group that recovered in virtual nature without sound and the control group displayed no particular autonomic activation or deactivation. The results demonstrate a potential mechanistic link between nature, the sounds of nature, and stress recovery, and suggest the potential importance of virtual reality as a tool in this research field.

AB - Experimental research on stress recovery in natural environments is limited, as is study of the effect of sounds of nature. After inducing stress by means of a virtual stress test, we explored physiological recovery in two different virtual natural environments (with and without exposure to sounds of nature) and in one control condition. Cardiovascular data and saliva cortisol were collected. Repeated ANOVA measurements indicated parasympathetic activation in the group subjected to sounds of nature in a virtual natural environment, suggesting enhanced stress recovery may occur in such surroundings. The group that recovered in virtual nature without sound and the control group displayed no particular autonomic activation or deactivation. The results demonstrate a potential mechanistic link between nature, the sounds of nature, and stress recovery, and suggest the potential importance of virtual reality as a tool in this research field.

U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.023

DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.05.023

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23688947

SN - 0031-9384

VL - 118

SP - 240

EP - 250

JO - Physiology & Behavior

JF - Physiology & Behavior

ER -

Virtual nature environment with nature sound exposure induce stress recovery by enhanced parasympathetic activity

Abstract

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