- The study tested Attention Restoration Theory which posits that natural environments restore directed attention abilities depleted in urban settings. Two experiments were conducted using the Remote Associates Test to measure creative cognition before and after viewing nature vs urban videos. - The first experiment found a 12% increase in scores for those who viewed nature videos and a 5% increase for urban videos. However, doubling the video time in the second experiment eliminated the effect. - The researchers concluded that outdoor immersion likely has a stronger restorative effect than lab videos and that more sensitive direct measures of attention are needed for indoor studies. Future work should consider scenes shown to maximally induce restoration and direct physiological measurements.

1. Bringing the Benefits of Nature Indoors; Difficulties with
Attention Restoration Experiments in the Laboratory
C. Carlson, J.M Watson, D.L. Strayer, E. Miller, A. Pyne, A. Hinerman
Psychology Department
Student Photo
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Student Name
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Attention Restoration Theory (ART) promotes the concept that attentional
resources requiring focused thoughtfulness are revitalized by the easy or
“soft” inherent captivation we experience in natural surroundings.
Oppositely, loud urban settings are considered attentional resource
eradicators. Atchley, Strayer and Atchley (2012) strengthened the ART
premise in an experiment using the Remote Associates Test (RAT), a
measure of creative cognition. In their experiment, the RAT scores
gathered from backpackers on the last day of a four day hike sans
technology were significantly higher than those of a separate group of
backpackers before embarking on a similar excursion.
In our experiment, we controlled for extraneous variables by presenting the
experiment indoors utilizing videos of attention depleting (urban) and
attention stimulating (nature) environments. Early trials employing pre-
video, post-video RAT scores as the measures of restoration found
comparable results to the outdoor studies with a 12% increase in the
nature group’s scores and a 5% increase in the urban group’s scores.
However, our attempt to increase the effect by doubling the video viewing
time resulted in a loss of effect, slanting the data toward the urban group
as the most improved. F(1,208)=3.22, p=.07.
Moving forward with Attention Restoration Theory, we feel there is validity
in outdoor experiments. Immersion into the outdoors likely produces a
sufficiently powerful influence which overcomes the RAT’s indirect
measure of cognition. Additionally we exert that potential exists for the
indoor studies as well. Indoor experiments, lacking the immersive quality,
would likely benefit from a more sensitive, direct measure of attention.
Further, future studies should also consider utilizing representative
stimulus shown to maximally induce restoration, such as scenes evoking
“mystery” or “fascination” (ie. a winding path disappearing into a dense
forest.) Future application of these specific attributes may intensify indoor
results.
 A between groups design was used in both experiments 1 & 2.
 The Remote Associates Test (RAT) was the cognitive measure in both
experiments.
 We utilized a pen and paper version of the RAT. The test was divided
into two parts with 15 word association questions each. We
counterbalanced the 2 forms as pre- and post-test measures.
 The first experiment’s condition was a 16 minute video (4 scenes for 4
minutes each) of either nature or urban settings.
 In the second experiment, 208 psychology students ages 18-52
participated for course credit.
 Experiment 2 doubled the video viewing time to 32 minutes (4 scenes
for 8 minutes each).
In the first experiment utilizing the 16 minute videos, we found a significant
difference of improved RAT scores between the nature and urban
conditions.
AbstractAbstract
Results
Discussion
References
 Moving forward with Attention Restoration experiments, we feel that
ART has potential, especially when applied in natural surroundings.
 Our inconsistent results with indoor videos could be due to any number
of variables including:
 Longer viewing time negating the restorative effects by increasing
technological influence.
 The RAT being insensitive for measuring restoration in the lab.
Atchley RA, Strayer DL, Atchley P (2012) Creativity in the Wild: Improving
Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings. PLoS ONE
7(12):e51474. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051474
Szolosi A.M., Watson J.M. and Ruddell E.J. (2014). The benefits of
mystery in nature on attention: Assessing the impacts of
presentation duration. Front. Psychol. 5:1360.
doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01360
Heading pictures taken at Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City, Utah by
Chalise Carlson
Experiment 1
Experiment 2
In the second experiment utilizing the 32 minute videos, we did not find a
significance between nature and urban RAT measures, indeed the urban
difference score was larger. F(1,208)=3.22, p=.07
Screenshot photos by Alex Hinerman
Materials and Method
RAT example:
Elephant—Lapse—Vivid Answer: Memory
 Future Studies should consider the following:
 Szolosi, Watson, & Ruddell’s (2014) study of “mystery” in which they
found certain natural scenes innately fascinating (ie. a winding path.)
 Utilizing evolutionarily relevant images (ie. running water) which are
shown to automatically capture attention (Szolosi et al. 2014).
 Instead of a behavioral measure, we encourage:
 Application of more direct measurements of cognitive restoration.
 Considering physiological measurement paired with subjective
surveys.