Dartmouth College and the Australian Antarctic Division are researching the mental health benefits of virtual reality (VR) for people in isolation, such as astronauts. With expeditions to Mawson Station, one of Antarctica's permanent research bases, lasting months, it is the ideal location for simulating the conditions of a Mars mission. The researchers are exploring how experiencing different VR scenes, such as beaches and forests, can break-up the monotony and silence of Antarctica's white landscape. Evidence suggests that exposure and interaction with nature can have restorative and stress-relieving properties to improve attention span and mental function.
Dartmouth College and the Australian Antarctic Division are researching the mental health benefits of virtual reality (VR) for people in isolation, such as astronauts. With expeditions to Mawson Station, one of Antarctica's permanent research bases, lasting up to nine months, it is the ideal location for simulating the conditions of a Mars mission. The researchers are exploring how experiencing different VR scenes, such as beaches and forests, can break-up the monotony and silence of Antarctica's white landscape. Evidence suggests that exposure and interaction with nature can have restorative and stress-relieving properties to improve attention span and mental function.