"Real Nature" reduces stress while "technological equivalents" have no positive effect what so ever.

Research participants had their heart rates monitored while in three different environments: a room with a window overlooking a natural setting, a room with a plasma screen tv displaying a "real-time" video feed of the same natural setting, and a room with a blank wall.

To the researchers surprise, the "mock natural setting" with the plasma screen tv did nothing at all to benefit the research subjects. The effect was equivalent to the blank wall, while the room with the window significantly improved (calmed) the subjects.

No surprise for us thinking and feeling people I think!

This study was carried out by the "Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems Lab" at the University of Washington and funded by the National Science Foundation. It has been published in the current issue of the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Read the full article.