Nature in Indoor Environments: An EEG Study Comparing Natural Greenery with Nature-Derived Visual Alternatives

Integrating greenery into built environments plays a significant role in enhancing indoor space, nurturing mental health, and reinforcing overall well-being. Yet, many indoor settings lack direct access to natural greenery, raising questions whether nature-derived visual alternatives, such as chromatic properties or visual complexity could evoke neural responses comparable to those induced by natural greenery. Four indoor window-view stimuli were presented: White Color (control), Green Color, Natural Greenery, and Shadows of Greenery. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor brain electrical activity, with a particular focus on frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) as an indicator of approach/withdrawal motivation and affective engagement. Natural Greenery showed the strongest asymmetry, with the most negative FAA values. Natural Greenery was also rated highest in comfort and likability. Additionally, a two-way repeated measures ANOVA indicated significantly greater right-frontal engagement in the Natural Greenery view. No comparable neural response was observed for Green Color or Shadows of Greenery.