Nature is a true source of neurological nourishment for modern humans

Edward O. Wilson

Since ancient times, thinkers such as Hippocrates have highlighted the beneficial and therapeutic qualities of Nature and green spaces.

Starting in the 1980s, researchers around the world began to investigate the benefits of exposure to natural environments, demonstrating their importance in the recovery of cognitive resources, the restoration of optimal physiological activation levels and the regulation of emotions.

Scientific studies on the benefits of viewing natural images

Two main scientific theories explain the effects of Nature on human functioning:

Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) and Attention Restoration Theory (ART).

Stress Recovery Theory

The Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) was formulated by Roger Ulrich in 1983.

In summary, it describes how experiences of Nature support psychophysiological well-being through emotional, cognitive and physiological responses that contribute to recovery from stressful conditions, reduction of pain perception and restoration of the body’s balance.

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Attention Restoration Theory

The Attention Restoration Theory (ART) was developed by psychologists Stephen and Rachel Kaplan in 1989.

According to this theory, Nature supports the recovery of attentional resources through a form of effortless engagement that allows cognitive processes to regenerate, enhancing concentration, mental clarity and intuitive thinking.

THE POWER OF NATURE.
A BALANCE OF CYCLES AND FREQUENCIES.

THE ALAMAR LIFE METHOD®

Alamar Life videos do more than simply show natural landscapes. They interpret Nature’s restorative qualities through carefully designed audiovisual sequences.

The Method is inspired by the principles that shape the natural world: landscapes, colours, seasons, natural elements, light and shadow, harmonies and sounds. Alamar Life captures their purest essence and transforms it into a contemplative experience that encourages a deeper and more harmonious perception of Nature.

Unlike traditional nature documentaries, which are designed to inform through narrative, Alamar Life experiences are created for contemplative viewing, free from the need to follow a story or maintain focused attention.

Each sequence explores a single natural element through a variety of perspectives while preserving complete visual and sonic coherence within the same theme. Every image reveals a new aspect of the same environment, creating a harmonious journey that extends immersion in Nature and supports well-being and quality of life.

TESTIMONIALS

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Valentina Pirola
Occupational therapist Santa Teresa care home, Livraga (LO) Italy.

Emilia sees the films with an impressive hunger for beauty, she is completely dazzled, there is nothing around her during the forty-minute session.

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Angela Eccher

Emilia sees the films with an impressive hunger for beauty, she is completely dazzled, there is nothing around her during the forty-minute session.

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Anna Daccordo
Psychotherapist LTC Santa Maria, Cles (TN) Italy.

We can’t bring them to the mountains, but we can bring the mountains to the care facility and make them feel at home again. This is the great power we have; we give them back their lives. … It is really a therapeutic tool; it is pure therapy for the soul and the heart.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
Dementia social educators LTC Giovanelli, Tesero (TN) Italy.

Emotions and sensations of enchantment and beauty. The environment becomes serene and welcoming. The first result was a reduction in so-called ‘behaviour disorders’. On a physical level, too, some of them felt improvements.

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Samanta Noldin
Dementia social educator LTC Santa Maria, Cles (TN) Italy.

Romeo had not spoken for two years; he no longer expressed any emotion. One day I projected the video of the sea and out of the blue we heard “Ah, the sea!”. He started telling us that he had asked his wife, kneeling on the beach, to get married. They then got married and went back there on their honeymoon. And he told us about his honeymoon.

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Samanta Noldin
Educatrice APSP Santa Maria, Cles (TN)

Romeo had not spoken for two years; he no longer expressed any emotion. One day I projected the video of the sea and out of the blue we heard “Ah, the sea!”. He started telling us that he had asked his wife, kneeling on the beach, to get married. They then got married and went back there on their honeymoon. And he told us about his honeymoon.

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Maria Rita Di Gioia
Psychotherapist LTC C. Vannetti, Rovereto (TN) Italy.

Within three minutes, no more, A. slowly stops crying, his face relaxes, his mood changes completely from anguished to carefree. The videos really seem to be a great way for these people to bring back their fondest memories.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
Dementia social educators LTC Giovanelli, Tesero (TN) Italy.

While watching therapeutic TV, the lady relaxes and manages to sleep. Even now, during the nights when she starts to manifest psychomotor agitation, the operators bring her in front of the therapeutic TV and most of the time this proves to be decisive.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
Dementia social educators LTC Giovanelli, Tesero (TN) Italy.

In the serenity, in front of a forest, a flower, or other images, memories also began to surface. Or people began to sing, or remembered a nursery rhyme. The climate influenced the family members themselves. For example, a group of relatives had formed, who would have the residents sing in the evening after dinner, in front of the pictures. The tranquillity that allowed for conversation had been created.

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Enrica Pontin
Dementia social educator LTC Villa Serena, Solagna (VI) Italy.

There are often moments of sharing on reminiscences, tales of their experiences or memories, and with emotion and sighs many manage to let us understand the inner depth that these videos allow them to reach.

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Enrica Pontin
Dementia social educator LTC Villa Serena, Solagna (VI) Italy.

They have become so in tune with the experience that it now becomes almost spontaneous for them to listen and get into synergy with the activity in order to respond actively and enthusiastically.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
Dementia social educators LTC Giovanelli, Tesero (TN) Italy.

Last but not least, the sense of beauty that these nature paintings have been able to create in the facility. The paintings that are projected are truly beautiful, are never the same, and also aesthetically create a pleasant environment to be in.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
ASPS Giovanelli, Tesero (TN)

Last but not least, the sense of beauty that these nature paintings have been able to create in the facility. The paintings that are projected are truly beautiful, are never the same, and also aesthetically create a pleasant environment to be in.

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Enrica Pontin
Educatrice IPAB Villa Serena, Solagna (VI)

They have become so in tune with the experience that it now becomes almost spontaneous for them to listen and get into synergy with the activity in order to respond actively and enthusiastically.

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Iris Dall'Aglio
Dementia social educator, Certified Timeslips facilitator (Timeslips storytelling for dementia Project)

The methodology of storytelling combined with the stimulation of nature videos arouses, activates, conveys emotions. The conversational dimension is intensified in the group. The memory dimension is activated from the natural place, but only transits from there to the connected and personal sensations and EMOTIONS.

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Paola Buelli
Dementia social educator LTC Casa Serena, Brembate Sopra (BG) Italy.

Rereading the stories that have been made makes us realise the richness of this proposal, which does not end in the time of the actual narration, but continues on the written page. We are collecting them with the idea of enhancing and highlighting, preserving them with care.

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Ilaria Sardo

Also the caregivers have been facilitated in their work. The projections of the Relaxation Channel manage to give a rhythm to the work of caring, which is slow and delicate. This slowing down can be perceived in so many actions of daily life: one sees more, hears more, feels more… this is perhaps the biggest change that the programme has brought about.

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Valentina Pirola
Terapista Occupazionale RSA Casa Santa Teresa, Livraga (Lodi)

Emilia sees the films with an impressive hunger for beauty, she is completely dazzled, there is nothing around her during the forty-minute session.

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Nicoletta Bocca
Physiomotricist LTC Opera Pia Cerino Zegna, Biella (BI) Italy.

The interesting observation – and one that I think would be worth investigating with a more detailed study – is that the videos introduced an important cognitive and attentional stimulus after a moment of relaxation, while maintaining calm and tranquillity within the session.

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Samanta Noldin
Dementia social educator LTC Santa Maria, Cles (TN) Italy.

We had two residents who no longer wanted to eat, they said ‘I don’t want to live anymore, so I won’t eat’. We put the fruit DVD rather than the garden DVD and eventually they started eating on their own, autonomously.

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Cristina Buso e Serena Rosi
Dementia social educators LTC Giovanelli, Tesero (TN) Italy.

Also the caregivers have been facilitated in their work. The projections of the Relaxation Channel manage to give a rhythm to the work of caring, which is slow and delicate. This slowing down can be perceived in so many actions of daily life: one sees more, hears more, feels more… this is perhaps the biggest change that the programme has brought about.

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Letizia Espanoli
Expert trainer and organiser of Alzheimer's units - Sente-Mente Project creator

The first element you must always reflect on is the environment in the sense of stimuli, colours, possibilities. I believe that our televisions must remain switched off and there must be a wisdom that proposes thoughtful images on the biography of these people. This video, which also brings us back to peace, has to be turned on. Two, three armchairs, the video goes and you have created an environmental pause so that the person can sit, rest for three or four minutes and restart. Today we can choose things that have a very low economic impact and a very high impact on the quality of life. Doing this is an improvement.

FROM EXPERIENCE TO RESEARCH

The observations gathered over the years have led to collaborations with universities, experimental studies and research projects investigating the effects of audiovisual experiences of Nature.
University Collaborations
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RESTSTRESS PROJECT

PRIN – National Research Project
University of Verona, Italy – Scientific Coordinator: PhD Margherita Brondino

The study investigates the potential of biophilic design to promote psychological recovery and reduce physiological stress through exposure to audiovisual experiences of Nature.

Research Protocol

  • 100 participants
  • 15 minutes per day for 5 consecutive days
  • 5 different natural environments

Key Findings

  • +63% relaxation
  • +38% calm
  • −35% anxiety
  • −31% stress
  • −7 bpm heart rate

Read the full article

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STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF VIEWING NATURAL LANDSCAPES

Master’s Degree Thesis – University of Padua, Italy
Author: Ottavia Damian – Supervisor: Prof. Francesca Pazzaglia

The study shows that even brief exposure to audiovisual natural landscapes promotes relaxation, improves mood and leads participants to perceive the environments as highly restorative.

Research Protocol

  • 90 participants
  • 6-minute streaming session
  • Three different seasons: summer, autumn and winter

Key Findings

  • Improved mood
  • Increased positive emotions
  • Reduced physiological activation
  • Greater perceived relaxation
  • High perceived restorativeness across all seasons

Read the full article

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
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BIOWELL – RELAXATION IN 10 MINUTES

Tesla Holistic Academy
Project Coordinator: Severino Doppi

Measurement of the effects of an Alamar Life video using BioWell technology.

Research Protocol

  • 22 participants
  • 10-minute video: 12 Flowers of the Chromatic Scale
  • Continuous BioWell monitoring throughout the session

Key Findings

  • Progressive increase in the relaxation index throughout the entire experience
  • +42% relaxation at the end of the session

Read the full article

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BIOWELL – REPEATED EXPOSURE STUDY

Tesla Holistic Academy
Project Coordinator: Severino Doppi

Study of the effects of repeated exposure to Alamar Life videos using BioWell measurements collected from participants.

Research Protocol

  • Individual participant assessments
  • Pre- and post-session measurements
  • Experimental programme conducted over time

Key Findings

  • Progressive improvement in the psychophysiological parameters measured after repeated exposure

Read the full article

METHODOLOGICAL COMPARISON
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NATURE VS NATURE

APSP “Clementino Vannetti” – Rovereto, Italy
Project Coordinator: Dr. Maria Rita Di Gioia

Comparative study of the effects of viewing audiovisual Nature experiences in people living with dementia. The research compared two different approaches to representing Nature: the Alamar Life Method and high-quality nature documentaries available online.

Research Protocol

  • Two clinically comparable groups (dementia/Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Comparison between the Alamar Life Method and nature documentaries (BBC and other online documentaries)
  • Three 30-minute sessions per week
  • Total study duration: approximately three months

Key Findings

Quality of life (Cornell-Brown Scale for Quality of Life in Dementia)

  • +240 (Alamar Life group)
  • −59 (Nature documentary group)

Effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions (Muniz Scale)

  • +12.6 (Alamar Life group)
  • +5.9 (Nature documentary group)

Read the full article

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
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NATURE VIEWING AND ART THERAPY

Rsa Maria Grazia, Cerino Zegna, Biella, Italy

Project Coordinator: Emanuela Petit

Study on the benefits of viewing Alamar Life Nature videos before art therapy sessions.

Research Protocol

  • Viewing one long sequence (12 minutes) before each art therapy session
  • One session per week
  • Five-month non-continuous programme

Key Findings

  • The NPT-ES (Non-Pharmacological Therapy – Experience Scale) reached the maximum score (15) after eight sessions in almost all participants, with an average score of 14.60
  • Improvements observed in cognitive, attentional, psychomotor and conversational abilities
  • Increased overall well-being

Read the full article

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NATURE VIEWING AND ART THERAPY

Rsa Beato Angelico, Borgo San Lorenzo Firenze, Italy

Project Coordinators: Dr. Mabel Gotti and Dr. Melania Menina Marin

Study on the benefits of viewing Alamar Life Nature videos before art therapy sessions.

Research Protocol

  • Viewing the same short sequence repeated five times (total duration: 15 minutes)
  • Three sessions per week
  • Three-month continuous programme

Key Findings

  • Significant improvement in the Cornell-Brown Quality of Life Scale, with effects still evident two weeks after the end of the programme
    • Baseline: −2.17
    • Post-intervention: +15.00
    • Two-week follow-up: +12.50
  • Reduction in behavioural symptoms according to the CMAI (Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory)
    • Baseline: 51.83
    • Post-intervention: 32.00
    • Two-week follow-up: 33.22

Read the full article

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NATURE VIEWING AND ART THERAPY

Rsa Fontenuovo Onlus, Perugia, Italy

Project Coordinators: Dr. Antonella Cerini and Dr. Rachele Stacchiotti

Study on the benefits of viewing Alamar Life Nature videos before art therapy sessions.

Research Protocol

  • Viewing the same short sequence (15–30 minutes)
  • One session per week
  • Five-month continuous programme

Key Findings

  • Significant reduction in Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia scores
  • Improvement in the NPT-ES (Non-Pharmacological Therapy – Experience Scale), particularly in participation, enjoyment and social interaction
  • Improvement in MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination) scores in almost all participants

Read the full article

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ADDICTION RECOVERY: NATURE VIEWING SESSIONS

Il Punto Cooperative – Biella, Italy (three centres: low-, medium- and high-risk programmes)
Project Coordinator: Dr. Daniele Carraro

The first Italian study to apply the principles of environmental psychology to the field of addiction recovery. The project investigated how, and to what extent, an audiovisual Nature-based methodology could influence the recovery of emotional functioning.

The results were presented at the National Conference of the Italian Society of Addiction Medicine (SITD).

Research Protocol

  • 29 participants (16 experimental, 13 control)
  • Viewing one long sequence (12 minutes)
  • Two sessions per week

Key Findings

  • The DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) showed a 75% improvement in the experimental group, compared with 23% in the control group.
  • Pre- and post-viewing questionnaires showed a positive shift in emotional states:
    • +25 “relaxed”
    • +15 “amazed”
    • Reduction in the feelings of “tired” and “sad”

Read the full article

Rivista CURA
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2019 RI.GENE.RA National event on the influence of frequencies on stem cells

Extracts from Cristina Fino’s intervention.

2019 RI.GENE.RA National event on the influence of frequencies on stem cells

Maurizio Forza introduces Cristina Fino – excerpts.

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Cristina Fino presents the Relax Experience Nature Care channel, the 1st therapeutic TV.

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Anna Daccordo, psychologist: Experience Nature videos as a therapeutic tool.

ALZHEIMER

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Cristina Falomi, dementia social educator: testimonies.

ALZHEIMER

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Angela Eccher, Alzheimer unit manager: testimonies.

ALZHEIMER

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Samanta Noldin, dementia social educator: testimonies.

ALZHEIMER

2019 Meeting of Care Professions – Cristina Fino explains Experience Nature.

2018 “Waiting for Alzheimer Fest” – Cristina Fino explains the Experience Nature method in personal care

ALZHEIMER

2018 “Waiting for Alzheimer Fest” – Samanta Noldin, dementia social educator, talks about her experience with Experience Nature videos.

ALZHEIMER

2018 Meeting of Care Professions – Cristina Falomi talks about her experience with Experience Nature in creative storytelling.

ALZHEIMER

2017 National Non-self-sufficiency Forum Workshop on Non-pharmacological Therapies.

NON-SELF-SUFFICIENCY

2017 Integrated Oncology Conference – Modena Forum Monzani.

ONCOLOGY

2017 Cultivating Beauty in Care Homes – speaker Cristina Fino.

ALZHEIMER

2016 III Sente-Mente Day conference – speaker Dr. Di Gioia.

ALZHEIMER

2016 III Sente-Mente Day conference – speaker Cristina Fino.

ALZHEIMER

2015 National Conference Italian Society of Addiction – speaker Dr. Carraro.

ADDICTIONS

2015 1st Conference “Images beyond memory” – University of Pisa.

ALZHEIMER

2015 4th Neuroscience and Neuropsychology Conference – organised by PerFormat.

CHILDREN and ALZHEIMER

2015 Meeting of the Socio-Health Professions – speaker Dr Di Gioia.

ALZHEIMER

2015 Conference “Images beyond Memory” – Natural History Museum University of Pisa.

ALZHEIMER

2015 2nd Conference Sente-Mente Day by Letizia Espanoli

ALZHEIMER

2014 1st Conference Sente-Mente Day by Letizia Espanoli

ALZHEIMER