A new study from the University of Exeter shows that experiencing nature through virtual reality (VR) can help reduce symptoms related to long-term (chronic) pain.
The research, published in the journal Pain, found that people who felt more immersed in the VR nature scenes experienced stronger pain-relieving effects.
Chronic pain typically lasts longer than three months and is difficult to treat. In this study, researchers simulated chronic pain in healthy participants using mild electric shocks.
They then compared the effects of immersive 360-degree VR nature films to traditional 2D video scenes. They found that VR was nearly twice as effective at relieving pain compared to the 2D experience, with effects lasting for at least five minutes after the VR session ended.
Dr. Sam Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Pain Neuroscience and lead author of the study, explained that although nature exposure is known to help reduce everyday pain, there has been less research on its effects for people living with long-term pain.
Not everyone with chronic conditions can get outdoors, making virtual nature scenes an accessible alternative. The study was the first to explore how prolonged VR nature exposure impacts symptoms linked to chronic pain sensitivity.
The study involved 29 healthy participants. During their first visit, they were exposed to repeated mild shocks on the forearm and monitored for 50 minutes. This caused them to develop a type of pain sensitivity similar to that experienced by people with nerve pain.
On their second visit, participants were immersed in a 45-minute VR experience of Oregon waterfalls. The scene was selected for its calming and therapeutic qualities. On another visit, the same scene was shown on a 2D screen to compare effects.
After each session, participants rated their pain and how ‘present’ they felt in the experience. The VR immersion significantly reduced the spread of pain sensitivity and this effect remained even at the end of the 45-minute session. Those who felt more present during the VR experience reported the greatest pain relief.
In a separate session, participants underwent brain scans while experiencing cold-induced pain. The scans showed that individuals with stronger connections between brain regions involved in controlling pain felt less pain. This suggests that immersive VR nature scenes may change how pain signals are processed in the brain and spinal cord.
Dr. Sonia Medina, a co-author of the study, said that VR seems to have a powerful effect because it creates a strong feeling of being present in nature.
This immersive quality appears to help the brain reduce pain more effectively. She hopes the findings lead to more research and potentially using VR nature scenes in settings like hospitals and care homes to help manage pain.
If you care about pain management, please read studies about Scientists find a new drug for chronic nerve pain and findings of Scientists find a new, less-invasive way to tackle knee pain.
For more about pain, please read studies about Scientists find a new way to manage knee pain and findings of Promising new drug offers hope for chronic nerve pain relief.
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