Our Research

Some of Our Recent Publications

  1. Browning, M. H. E. M., Zhang, K., McAnirlin, O., Olmsted, S., Edgmon, S., Thurson, K. M., Reuben, A., & Yeager, R. (2026). The Depth and Subsets of Cumulative Burdens Across the United States. Environmental Justice, 19394071261417298. https://doi.org/10.1177/19394071261417298

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., McAnirlin, O., Miller, W., Beard, H., Breed, M. W., Rubalcava, S. E., Engelman, C., Hatami, N., Jaggi, A., Maynard, A., Merker, H., Morassafar, S., Siepker, K., Shin, S., Vinas-Rogers, M., Zhang, K., & Pollack, L. (2026). The human health and well-being benefits of birds: A systematic scoping review of interaction patterns. Frontiers in Bird Science, 5.https://doi.org/10.3389/fbirs.2026.1871909

  3. Du, X., Yuan, S., Lam, T. L. H., Browning, M. H. E. M., & Tan, Z. (2025). Concordance Between Psychological and Physiological Measures of Nature Contact’s Mental Benefits: A Systematic Review and Exploratory Synthesis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102863

  4. Floyd, T. E., Browning, M. H. E. M., Herting, M. M., Cardenas-Iniguez, C., Calhoun, V. D., & Reuben, A. (2026). Nature variables and mental health in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD®) Study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 103089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2026.103089

  5. McAnirlin, Olivia, Jason Thrift, Fu Li, Joshua Pope, Matthew Browning, Panagiota Moutogiannis, Griffin Thomas, Eleanor Farrell, Micayla Evatt, and Tracy Fasolino. 2026. “Tandem VRTM in Hospice Care: Exploring Pilot Data for Patient-Caregiver Dyads.” American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. doi:10.1177/10499091261433182.

  6. Qiu, M., Browning, M. H. E. M., Zhang, R., Hong, Y., Chen, S., Li, H., Xia, T., Mao, Y., Xian, Z., & Zhang, J. (2026). Dose thresholds of urban nature contact for human health: A critical scoping review. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 121, 108495. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2026.108495

  7. Ye, J., Bai, X., Li, F., Browning, M. H. E. M., Eisenman, T., Yin, J., & Xu, L. (2026). What really helps recovery from stress: The leafiness or representational style of trees in a virtual nature? Journal of Environmental Psychology, 109, 102869. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102869  

2025

  1. Norwood, M. F., Bennett, J., Marsh, C. H., Jones, S. Gan, L., Hollins, I., Lakhani, A., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Gustafsson, L. (2025). Locally sourced: Bringing local natural environments to a neurorehabilitation ward with virtual reality. A feasibility randomized controlled trial on the impact on psychological distress. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 120213. Abstract

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., Shan, J., Alexeeff, S. E, Becker, D., Greenberg, J., Kuo, M., McAnirlin, O., Reuben, A., Wolf, K. L., Astell Burt, T., Van Den Eeden, S. K. (2025). Moving to greener neighborhoods and healthcare costs in Northern California. Environmental Epidemiology, 9(3). Abstract

  3. Hansen Li, Fu Li, Matthew H.E.M. Browning, Lincoln R. Larson, Viniece Jennings, Alessandro Rigolon, Scott Ogletree, Colby Parkinson, Ruoyu Wang (2025. Green spaces and social bonds: Investigating associations of parks and greenness with online social connectedness (via Facebook) across the United States. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 112:128985. Abstract

  4. McAnirlin, O., Bardhan, M., Browning, M. H. E. M., Frank, A. L., Hatami, N., Kiani, M., & Bhanu, A. (2025). Preparing for natural disasters with immersive technologies: A scoping review. TechRxiv. Abstract

  5. Browning, M. H. E. M., McAnirlin, O., Pearson, A. L., Corral, A., Bardhan, M., Ouer, G., Morassafar, S., Abdullah, F., Almog, S., Ambarlı, H., Astell-Burt, T., Awoyemi, A. G., Beery, T., Berdejo-Espinola, V., Börger, T., Borja, Á., Brossoit, R. M., Burnett, H., Flint, H. B., … Maddock, J. E. (2025). Establishing Consensus on Standardized Survey Measures of Time Outdoors in Nature. SSRN. Abstract

  6. Li, J., Browning, M. E., Sullivan, W. C., Liu, X., & Jiang, B. (2025). Greenness, Deprivation, and Fatal Police Shootings: A Five-Year Nationwide Study in the United States. Environment and Behavior, 00139165251316106. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139165251316106

  7. Li, H., Bardhan, M., Liu, Q., Yang, Y., Yin, M., Zhang, X., & Browning, M. H. E. M. (2025). The pathways linking green spaces to reduced climate change anxiety. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 104, 128600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128600

  8. Browning, M. H. E. M., Thurson, K. M., Maynard, A., McAnirlin, O., Kiani, M., & Powell, R. B. (2025). Beyond the screen: Comparing Holocaust museum visitor outcomes from interactive dimensions in testimony exhibits with 2D film exhibits. Holocaust Studies, 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1080/17504902.2025.2481647

  9. Browning, M., McAnirlin, O., Li, F., Bertrand, J., Davis, D., Madathil, K., Mau, G. F., & Henry Gomez, T. (2025). Virtual Reality Interventions of Daily Versus Weekly Data Collection in Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Adults With Cancer: Pilot Survey Study. JMIR Formative Research, 9, e73506–e73506. https://doi.org/10.2196/73506

  10. Makhinson, M., Pollack, L., Hallowell, R., Murray, C. H., Maddock, J. E., Stewart, S. M., Basu, A., King, D., Hansen, H., Ecological Medicine Working Group, Alberts, A. C., Anderson, B., Armstrong, K., Bassett, J. C., De Oliveira, F. J. B., Beachy, J., Berenji, M., Bershad, A. K., Bettman, J. E., … Zasloff, L. (2025). A Consensus Statement for Ecological Medicine: Moving Toward Connection-Based Medicine. EcoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-025-01757-3

  11. Yuan, S., Li, F., Hallo, J., Nicolette, M., & Browning, M. H. E. M. (2025). Solitude, Nature, and Parallel Shared Experience: Varied Impacts of Human Presence on Urban Park Functions. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 129064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.129064 

  12. Yuan, S., Browning, M. H. E. M., Li, F., Duchowski, A., Hallo, J., & Nicolette, M. (2025). Can Visual Attention Help Uncover the Effects of Visitor Density on Urban Park Experience? An eye-tracking and Virtual Reality Study. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102631. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2025.102631 

  13. Yuan, S., Ardekani, M. S., Goel, S., Joseph, A., Browning, M. H. E. M., Mihandoust, S., & Markowitz, J. (2025). 360° virtual tour as a novel preoperative preparation for children undergoing an outpatient procedure: A qualitative evaluation. Behaviour & Information Technology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2025.2567995 

  14. Zare Sakhvidi, M. J., Browning, M. H. E. M., Samuelsson, K., Labib, S. M., Psyllidis, A., Amegah, A. K., Astell-Burt, T., Bach, A., Jerrett, M., Bratman, G. N., van den Bosch, M., de Hoogh, K., de Vries, S., Dzhambov, A. M., Fallah Madvari, R., Feng, X., Fernandes, A., Fuertes, E., Giannico, V., … Dadvand, P. (2025). Methodological guidance for selecting buffers in greenspace–health studies. The Lancet Planetary Health, 101370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101370

2024

  1. Dong, J., Browning, M., Reuben, A., McAnirlin, O., Yuan, S., Stephens, C., Maisonet, M., Zhang, K., Hart, J. E., James, P. & Yeager, R. (2024). The paradox of high greenness and poor health in rural Central Appalachia. Environmental Research, 118400. Abstract

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., Hanley, J. R., Bailey, C. R., Beatley, T., Gailey, S., Hipp, J. A., Larson, L. R., James, P., Jennings, V., Jimenez, M. P., Kahn, P. H., Li, D., Reuben, A., Rigolon, A., Sachs, N. A., Pearson, A. L. & Minson, C. T. (2024). Quantifying Nature: Introducing NatureScoreTM and NatureDoseTM as Health Analysis and Promotion Tools. American Journal of Health Promotion, 38(1), 126–134. Abstract

  3. Bolouki, A., McAnirlin, O., H. E. M. Browning, M., & Maynard, A. (2024). Optimizing Virtual Nature for Psychological and Physiological Well-Being: A Systematic Review of the Moderating Effects of Duration, Nature Type, Sample Characteristics, and Immersiveness and Potential Risks of Bias. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 0(0), 1–17. Abstract

  4. McAnirlin, O. (2024). ‘It Feels Really Vulnerable and a Little Dangerous’: When Words Are Not Enough. Health Communication. 1–4. Abstract

  5. McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Fasolino, T., Okamoto, K., Sharaievska,I., Thrift, J., & Pope, J. K. (2024). Psychological well-being benefits of co-creating nature-based VR: Preliminary evidence from U.S. adults living with severe COPD. Wellbeing, Space & Society. Abstract

  6. McAnirlin, O., Thrift, J., Li, F., Pope, J. K., Browning, M. H. E. M., Moutogiannis, P. P., Thomas, G., Farrell, E., Evatt, M. M., & Fasolino, T. (2024). The Tandem VR™ protocol: Synchronized nature-based and other outdoor experiences in virtual reality for hospice patients and their caregivers. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications. Absract

  7. Patwary, M. M., Bardhan, M., Browning, M. H. E. M., Astell-Burt, T., Bosch, M. van den, Dong, J., Dzhambov, A. M., Dadvand, P., Fasolino, T., Markevych, I., McAnirlin, O., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., White, M. P. & Eeden, S. K. V. D. (2024). The economics of nature’s healing touch: A systematic review and conceptual framework of green space, pharmaceutical prescriptions, and healthcare expenditure associations. Science of The Total Environment, 914, 169635. Abstract

  8. Yuan, S., Li, F., Browning, M. H. E. M., Bardhan, M., Zhang, K., McAnirlin, O., Patwary, M. M., & Reuben, A. (2024). Leveraging and exercising caution with ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools in environmental psychology research. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1295275. Abstract

2023

  1. Bardhan, M., Zhang, K., Browning, M. H. E. M., Dong, J., Li, T., Bailey, C., McAnirlin, O., Hanley, J., Minson, C. T., Mutel, R. L., Ranganathan, S. & Reuben, A. (2023). Time in nature is associated with higher levels of positive mood: Evidence from the 2023 NatureDoseTM student survey. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 102083. Abstract

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., Shin, S., Drong, G., McAnirlin, O., Gagnon, R. J., Ranganathan, S., Sindelar, K., Hoptman, D., Bratman, G. N., Yuan, S., Prabhu, V. G. & Heller, W. (2023). Daily exposure to virtual nature reduces symptoms of anxiety in college students. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1239. Abstract

  3. Browning, M. H. E. M., Locke, D. H., Konijnendijk, C., Labib, S. M., Rigolon, A., Yeager, R., Bardhan, M., Berland, A., Dadvand, P., Helbich, M., Li, F., Li, H., James, P., Klompmaker, J., Reuben, A., Roman, L. A., Tsai, W.-L., Patwary, M., O’Neil-Dunne, J., … Nieuwenhuijsen, M. (2023). Measuring the 3-30-300 rule to help cities meet nature access thresholds. Science of The Total Environment, 167739. Abstract

  4. Li, H., Browning, M. H. E. M., Dzhambov, A. M., Patwary, M. M. & Zhang, G. (2023). Potential pathways of association from green space to smartphone addiction. Environmental Pollution, 331(Pt 2), 121852. Abstract

  5. Li, H., Browning, M. H. E. M., Rigolon, A., Larson, L. R., Taff, D., Labib, S. M., Benfield, J., Yuan, S., McAnirlin, O., Hatami, N. & Kahn, P. H. (2023). Beyond “bluespace” and “greenspace”: A narrative review of possible health benefits from exposure to other natural landscapes. Science of The Total Environment, 856(Pt 2), 159292. Abstract

  6. Moutogiannis, P. P., Thrift, J., Pope, J. K., Browning, M. H. E. M., McAnirlin, O. & Fasolino, T. (2023). A Rapid Review of the Role of Virtual Reality in Care Delivery of Palliative Care and Hospice. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing. Abstract

  7. Suppakittpaisarn, P., Wu, C.-C., Tung, Y.-H., Yeh, Y., Wanitchayapaisit, C., Browning, M. H. E. M., Chang, C.-Y. & Sullivan, W. C. (2023). Durations of virtual exposure to built and natural landscapes impact self-reported stress recovery: evidence from three countries. Landscape and Ecological Engineering, 19(1), 95–105. Abstract

  8. Yuan, S., Browning, M. H. E. M., McAnirlin, O., Sindelar, K., Shin, S., Drong, G., Hoptman, D. & Heller, W. (2023). A virtual reality investigation of factors influencing landscape preferences: Natural elements, emotions, and media creation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 230, 104616. Abstract

2022

  1. Becker, D. A., Browning, M. H. E. M., McAnirlin, O., Yuan, S. & Helbich, M. (2022). Is green space associated with opioid-related mortality? An ecological study at the U.S. county level. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 70, 127529. Abstract

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., Li, D., White, M. P., Bratman, G. N., Becker, D. & Benfield, J. A. (2022). Association between residential greenness during childhood and trait emotional intelligence during young adulthood: A retrospective life course analysis in the United States. Health & Place, 74, 102755. Abstract

  3. Browning, M. H. E. M., Rigolon, A., McAnirlin, O. & Yoon, H. (Violet). (2022). Where greenspace matters most: A systematic review of urbanicity, greenspace, and physical health. Landscape and Urban Planning, 217, 104233. Abstract

    Browning, M. H. E. M., Rigolon, A., Ogletree, S., Wang, R., Klompmaker, J. O., Bailey, C., Gagnon, R. & James, P. (2022). The PAD-US-AR dataset: Measuring accessible and recreational parks in the contiguous United States. Scientific Data, 9(1), 773. Abstract

  4. Eeden, S. K. V. D., Browning, M. H. E. M., Becker, D. A., Shan, J., Alexeeff, S. E., Ray, G. T., Quesenberry, C. P. & Kuo, M. (2022). Association between residential green cover and direct healthcare costs in Northern California: An individual level analysis of 5 million persons. Environment International, 163, 107174. Abstract

  5. Hartshorn, G., Browning, M., Madathil, K. C., Mau, F., Ranganathan, S., Todd, A., Bertrand, J., Maynard, A., McAnirlin, O., Sindelar, K., Hernandez, R. & Gomez, T. H. (2022). Efficacy of virtual reality assisted guided imagery (VRAGI) in a home setting for pain management in patients with advanced cancer: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 12(12), e064363. Abstract

  6. Larson, L. R., Mullenbach, L. E., Browning, M. H. E. M., Rigolon, A., Thomsen, J., Metcalf, E. C., Reigner, N. P., Sharaievska, I., McAnirlin, O., D’Antonio, A., Cloutier, S., Helbich, M. & Labib, S. M. (2022). Greenspace and park use associated with less emotional distress among college students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental Research, 204(Pt D), 112367. Abstract

  7. Sharaievska, I., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Larson, L. R., Mullenbach, L., Rigolon, A., Cloutier, S., Thomsen, J., Reigner, N., Metcalf, E. C. & D’Antonio, A. (2022). Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Students’ Social Experience: A Cross-Sectional Qualitative Study across Seven Universities in the U.S. SCHOLE: A Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education, 1–17. Abstract

  8. Sharaievska, I., McAnirlin, O., Browning, M. H. E. M., Larson, L. R., Mullenbach, L., Rigolon, A., D’Antonio, A., Cloutier, S., Thomsen, J., Metcalf, E. C. & Reigner, N. (2022). “Messy transitions”: Students’ perspectives on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on higher education. Higher Education, 1–18. Abstract

  9. Shin, S., Browning, M. H. E. M. & Dzhambov, A. M. (2022). Window Access to Nature Restores: A Virtual Reality Experiment with Greenspace Views, Sounds, and Smells. Ecopsychology, 14(4), 253–265. Abstract

2021 and earlier

  1. Becker, D. A. & Browning, M. H. E. M. (2021). Total area greenness is associated with lower per-capita medicare spending, but blue spaces are not. City and Environment Interactions, 11, 100063. Abstract

  2. Browning, M. H. E. M., Larson, L. R., Sharaievska, I., Rigolon, A., McAnirlin, O., Mullenbach, L., Cloutier, S., Vu, T. M., Thomsen, J., Reigner, N., Metcalf, E. C., D’Antonio, A., Helbich, M., Bratman, G. N. & Alvarez, H. O. (2021). Psychological impacts from COVID-19 among university students: Risk factors across seven states in the United States. PLoS ONE, 16(1), e0245327. Abstract

  3. Browning, M. & Locke, D. H. (2020). The greenspace-academic performance link varies by remote sensing measure and urbanicity around Maryland Public Schools. Landscape and Urban Planning, 19, 103706. Abstract

  4. Browning, M. H. E. M., Mimnaugh, K. J., Riper, C. J. van, Laurent, H. K. & LaValle, S. M. (2020). Can Simulated Nature Support Mental Health? Comparing Short, Single-Doses of 360-Degree Nature Videos in Virtual Reality With the Outdoors. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2667. Abstract

  5. Browning, M. H. E. M., Saeidi-Rizi, F., McAnirlin, O., Yoon, H. & Pei, Y. (2020). The Role of Methodological Choices in the Effects of Experimental Exposure to Simulated Natural Landscapes on Human Health and Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review. Environment and Behavior, 53(7), 687–731. Abstract

  6. Browning, M. H. E. M., Shipley, N., McAnirlin, O., Becker, D., Yu, C.-P., Hartig, T. & Dzhambov, A. M. (2020). An Actual Natural Setting Improves Mood Better Than Its Virtual Counterpart: A Meta-Analysis of Experimental Data. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2200. Abstract

  7. Browning, M., Suppakittpaisarn, P., Jiang, S. & Joseph, A. (2020). Human health assessments of green infrastructure designs using virtual reality. Landscape Architecture, 27(9), 00–00. Abstract

  8. Joseph, A., Browning, M. H. E. M. & Jiang, S. (2020). Using Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) to Conduct Environmental Design Research: A Primer and Decision Framework. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 13(3), 11–25. Abstract

  9. Kuo, M., Klein, S. E., Browning, M. H. & Zaplatosch, J. (2020). Greening for academic achievement: Prioritizing what to plant and where. Landscape and Urban Planning, 206, 103962. Abstract

  10. Riva, G., Bernardelli, L., Browning, M. H. E. M., Castelnuovo, G., Cavedoni, S., Chirico, A., Cipresso, P., Paula, D. M. B. de, Lernia, D. D., Fernández-Álvarez, J., Figueras-Puigderrajols, N., Fuji, K., Gaggioli, A., Gutiérrez-Maldonado, J., Hong, U., Mancuso, V., Mazzeo, M., Molinari, E., Moretti, L. F., … Wiederhold, B. K. (2020). COVID Feel Good—An Easy Self-Help Virtual Reality Protocol to Overcome the Psychological Burden of Coronavirus. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 563319. Abstract

  11. Becker, D. A., Browning, M. H. E. M., Kuo, M. & Eeden, S. K. V. D. (2019). Is green land cover associated with less health care spending? Promising findings from county-level Medicare spending in the continental United States. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 41, 39–47. Abstract

  12. Browning, M. H. E. M. & Alvarez, H. A. O. (2019). Editorial Commentary: Scanning for threats and natural environments giving our reptilian brains a break. Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine, 30(4), 247–248. Abstract

  13. Browning, M. H. E. M. & Rigolon, A. (2019b). School Green Space and Its Impact on Academic Performance: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3), 429. Abstract

  14. Browning, M. H. E. M., Lee, K. & Wolf, K. L. (2019). Tree cover shows an inverse relationship with depressive symptoms in elderly residents living in U.S. nursing homes. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 23–32.

  15. Browning, M. H. E. M., Kuo, M., Sachdeva, S., Lee, K. & Westphal, L. (2018). Greenness and school-wide test scores are not always positively associated – A replication of “linking student performance in Massachusetts elementary schools with the ‘greenness’ of school surroundings using remote sensing.” Landscape and Urban Planning, 178, 69–72. Abstract

  16. Browning, M. H. E. M., Stern, M. J., Ardoin, N. M. & Heimlich, J. E. (2018). Factors that contribute to community members’ support of local nature centers. Environmental Education Research, 24(3), 326–342. Abstract

  17. Kuo, M., Browning, M. H. E. M. & Penner, M. L. (2018). Do Lessons in Nature Boost Subsequent Classroom Engagement? Refueling Students in Flight. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 2253. Abstract

  18. Browning, M. & Lee, K. (2017). Within What Distance Does “Greenness” Best Predict Physical Health? A Systematic Review of Articles with GIS Buffer Analyses across the Lifespan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7), 675. Abstract

  19. Browning, M. H. E. M., Stern, M. J., Ardoin, N. M., Heimlich, J. E., Petty, R. & Charles, C. (2017). Investigating the sets of values that community members hold toward local nature centers. Environmental Education Research, 23(9), 1291–1306. Abstract

  20. Browning, M. H. E. M., Marion, J. L. & Gregoire, T. G. (2013). Sustainably connecting children with nature – An exploratory study of nature play area visitor impacts and their management. Landscape and Urban Planning, 119, 104–112. Abstract

Exploring Technology in the Natural World.

Researchers at the Virtual Reality and Nature Lab apply an interdisciplinary and technological focus to study the interactions and connections between people and the natural world. 

Our research tends to focus on four key areas: 

  1. Understanding Nature and Nature Experiences

  2. Virtual Reality

  3. Underlying Pathways Between Nature and Health

  4. Fostering Education and Engagement

Read more about our published research below.

If you have any questions about upcoming research projects, please email us at nature@clemson.edu.