Mapping Sensory Modalities, Cognitive Outcomes, and Neurophysiological Measures in Restorative Environment Research: A Systematic Review

Restorative environments have been widely associated with stress reduction, psychological recovery, and improved well-being; however, evidence regarding cognitive performance remains methodologically fragmented, particularly across sensory modalities and neurophysiological assessment approaches. This systematic review examined the relationship between restorative environments and cognitive performance, with specific attention to sensory modality, cognitive domain, and the neuroscientific and physiological methods used to assess these effects. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2000 onward were identified through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PsycINFO, with the final search conducted on 31 March 2026. Eligible studies involved healthy human participants exposed to restorative environmental conditions in built, natural, or simulated settings and included at least one objective measure of cognitive performance together with at least one central nervous system or autonomic nervous system measure. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Of the 517 records identified, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria: visual (n = 13), auditory (n = 1), thermal (n = 8), olfactory (n = 1), and multisensory (n = 3). Across the 26 included studies, study-level effect directions were predominantly mixed, comprising 13 mixed, 6 positive, 4 neutral, and 3 negative classifications. Visual studies showed the clearest recurring favorable pattern, particularly for attention-related performance and selected working-memory outcomes. Thermal effects were condition-dependent, whereas evidence for auditory, olfactory, and multisensory modalities remained limited and mixed. Overall, the strength and consistency of the findings varied substantially according to sensory modality, exposure design, and assessment method. The evidence base was uneven across sensory modalities and showed considerable heterogeneity in intervention design, exposure characteristics, cognitive tasks, and neurophysiological outcomes. These findings provide a structured, modality-specific map of how restorative environments have been linked with cognitive performance while highlighting the need for more methodologically consistent research, particularly on underexplored non-visual, tactile, and multisensory pathways.