An experimental study of the acute effects of visual and olfactory nature stimuli on task performance

Nature exposure has been associated with improvements in physiological, emotional, and cognitive functioning. However, workplace research has primarily focused on visual access to nature, despite nature being inherently a multisensory experience. Drawing on Attention Restoration Theory (ART), Stress Reduction Theory (SRT), and emerging work on olfactory environments ("smellscapes"), this study examines how visual and olfactory nature stimuli independently and jointly influence cognitive and behavioral outcomes in workplace settings.

A between-subjects experiment (N = 256) employed a 2 × 2 design (visual: present vs. absent × olfactory: present vs. absent). Participants completed tasks assessing attention, memory recall, abstract reasoning, risk aversion, and dishonest behavior. Outcomes were analyzed using two-way factorial ANOVA to evaluate the independent and combined effects of exposures, with supplementary one-way ANOVA conducted across the four conditions. Blink rate was also recorded via continuous eye-tracking as a physiological indicator of cognitive load, alongside facial expression data to contextualize affective responses.

Effects varied by sensory condition and outcome. Visual exposure was associated with improvements in attention and abstract reasoning, whereas olfactory exposure was associated with memory performance and dishonest responding. Significant interactions were observed for several outcomes, including attention, memory, risk-taking, and dishonest responding. Blink rates were generally lower under nature exposure conditions than in the control condition. Physiological measures indicated reduced blink rates under nature exposure conditions relative to control environments, suggesting differences in visual attention and task engagement across experimental conditions.

These findings suggest that multisensory nature exposure differentially influences cognitive and behavioral processes in workplace environments rather than producing uniform benefits. By demonstrating that low-cost, passive interventions such as visual and olfactory cues can shape attention, decision-making, and mental overload, this study advances environmental psychology and supports the integration of multisensory design strategies to enhance workplace functioning and overall productivity.