Attention Restoration Theory: A systematic review of the attention restoration potential of exposure to natural environments

What the study found

Some measures of attention improved after nature exposure, but findings varied substantially by test and study design.

Limitations

Heterogeneity and risk-of-bias issues limit strong universal conclusions.

Neurodesign interpretation

ART is plausible but not a blank check. Neurodesign should state which attentional function a space is intended to restore and how it will be measured.

Possible design implications

Use specific cognitive outcomes when testing restorative design rather than global claims about 'focus.'

Why it stays in the corpus

Retain as the first major ART evidence audit.

Study design

Systematic review

Population

Humans across 31 studies

Setting

Natural, simulated and laboratory settings

Field

Environmental psychology

Mechanism

Attention restoration

Spatial variable

Nature exposure

Keywords

ART, nature, attention, systematic review