Real Foliage Plants as Visual Stimuli to Improve Concentration and Attention in Elementary Students

Yun-Ah Oh, Seon-Ok Kim and Sin-Ae Park
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Yun-Ah Oh: Department of Animal and Plant Assisted Therapy, Graduate School of Agriculture and Animal Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
Seon-Ok Kim: Department of Animal and Plant Assisted Therapy, Graduate School of Agriculture and Animal Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
Sin-Ae Park: Department of Animal and Plant Assisted Therapy, Graduate School of Agriculture and Animal Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the physiological and psychological benefits of foliage plants as visual stimuli. Twenty-three elementary students (aged 11 to 13 years old) participated in this study. In a crossover design, electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure and determine the psycho-physiological effects of four different visual stimuli: an actual plant, artificial plant, photograph of a plant, and no plant. Subjective evaluations of emotions were assessed using the profile of mood state and semantic differential methods immediately after exposure to each visual stimulus. A significant decrease in theta waves of the frontal lobe was associated with presentation of the actual plants. This response indicated that the viewing of living plants prompted improvements in the attention and concentration of the elementary students. Furthermore, the presentation of the living plants was associated with more positive mood states, such as feelings of comfort and naturalness. In conclusion, actual plants may improve attention and prompt psychological relaxation in elementary students relative to artificial plants, photographs of plants, or the absence of plants.

Keywords: brain waves; electroencephalography; horticultural therapy; mood state; socio-horticulture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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