A Multisensory Approach to Virtual Reality Stress Reduction

TL;DR

This paper explores enhancing virtual reality forest bathing experiences by integrating multisensory technologies like smell and temperature to improve stress reduction and mental health benefits.

Contribution

It introduces a multisensory VR approach for virtual forest bathing, expanding beyond audiovisual to include olfactory and thermal stimuli.

Findings

Multisensory VR enhances immersion and relaxation.

Integration of smell and temperature improves stress reduction.

Potential for accessible mental health interventions.

Abstract

Forest bathing is a nature immersion practice that reduces stress, restores mental resources, and has a wide variety of use cases in the treatment of mental illnesses. Since many people who need the benefits of forest bathing have little access to nature, virtual reality (VR) is being explored as a tool for delivering accessible immersive nature experiences via virtual nature environments (VNE's). Research on VNE's mainly utilizes the audiovisual capabilities of VR, but since forest bathing is a fully multisensory experience, further investigations into the integration of other sensory technologies, namely smell and temperature, are essential for the future of VNE research.