Campus environments and mental restoration: eye-tracking evidence from dynamic stimuli

Purpose Understanding the restorative potential of built environments is essential for promoting mental well-being. However, existing studies often rely on static image-based methods, which are inherently limited in capturing the temporal and spatial dynamics of environmental perception. These methods frequently introduce biases, such as selective framing and abrupt transitions, failing to reflect natural viewing behavior. Addressing these limitations, this study investigates the restorative qualities of campus environments using dynamic VR stimuli and eye-tracking technology. By providing continuous temporal and spatial information, dynamic VR stimuli offer a more immersive and ecologically valid approach to understanding how specific environmental features contribute to psychological restoration. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the restorative qualities of campus environments using VR eye-tracking technology and dynamic stimuli. Campus environments were filmed through walking sequences and paired with PRS audio prompts. About 40 university students participated in the experiment, with eye-tracking data processed using computer vision-based semantic segmentation and the concept of relative areas of interest, followed by correlation analysis with restorative quality scores. Findings The results revealed that natural elements such as “sky,” “tree,” “waterscape” and “landscape corridor” were significantly positively correlated with the being-away and fascination dimensions, indicating their role in capturing attention and supporting psychological recovery. Conversely, architectural elements like “architectural corridor” and “building facade” were negatively correlated with the extent dimension, while “architectural open space” positively correlated, enhancing spatial perception and exploration. Originality/value These findings underscore the importance of natural elements and open spaces in built environments while also revealing the complex influence of architectural features. The study provides valuable insights for optimizing campus design to support students’ mental health and well-being.