When Nature Lightens the Mind: Virtual Natural Environments Reduce Cognitive Workload

Daily activities often impose substantial cognitive demands. Although exposure to natural environments has been associated with cognitive restoration, it remains unclear whether natural contexts can mitigate cognitive workload during task execution. This study used immersive virtual reality (IVR) to examine whether naturalistic environments reduce perceived cognitive workload compared to artificial ones. Fifty-one university students (38 females; age range 18–35 years, M = 22.58, SD = 2.43) experienced two virtual scenarios: a park (natural) and an office (artificial). In each condition, participants performed a card-matching memory task to remember card positions and identify matching pairs. Behavioural performance was measured through number of movements and completion time. After each condition, perceived cognitive workload was assessed using the Simulation Task Load Index (SIM-TLX). Behavioural performance did not differ between conditions. However, perceived workload varied as a function of environmental context and task efficiency. Participants who completed the task faster and with fewer movements reported lower mental demand in natural environment than in artificial one. These findings suggest that natural environments may buffer the subjective cost of cognitive processing without altering behavioural performance. They also highlight the importance of integrating subjective workload and objective performance measures when examining environmental influences on cognitive functioning.