Nature’s Painkiller: How Virtual Scenes Ease Pain in the Brain
Viewing natural scenes can significantly reduce how people perceive pain, a new neuroimaging study has found. Researchers discovered that participants reported less pain and exhibited altered brain activity associated with pain perception while looking at virtual nature, compared to urban or office environments. Using advanced machine learning to analyze brain scans, scientists confirmed this pain-relieving effect was due to reduced activity in areas responsible for processing sensory pain signals, and not merely a placebo effect. The findings suggest that virtual experiences of nature could serve as accessible, non-invasive treatments to complement conventional pain management. ….[READ]
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