The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults

Hiromi Suenaga, Kanako Murakami, Nozomi Murata, Syoriki Nishikawa, Masae Tsutsumi and Hiroshi Nogaki
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Hiromi Suenaga: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
Kanako Murakami: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
Nozomi Murata: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
Syoriki Nishikawa: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
Masae Tsutsumi: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
Hiroshi Nogaki: Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-10

Abstract: Spending time in nature might positively influence mental health by inducing a relaxed state. Recently, gardens have been created on hospital rooftops in Japan to help inpatients recover from various physical and mental aliments. However, there is little evidence regarding any positive physiological effects of artificial gardens designed for health. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological and cardiovascular responses incited by artificial natural environments. Japanese university students ( n = 38) participated in a one-group pretest post-test experiment conducted at the Yamaguchi Flower Expo in Japan in October 2018, designed to assess whether exposure to four environments (forest, flowers, ocean, and artificial garden for health) influenced heart rate variability measures. After pretesting to determine baseline measurements, participants completed a circuit through the four natural environments. Following circuit completion, post-testing determined that the low frequency/high frequency ratio was significantly lower in the overall sample and the four areas had similar influences on heart rate variability. Findings suggest that exposure to nature by walking through natural areas and in rooftop artificial gardens might enhance the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Keywords: heart rate variability; artificial gardens; physiological effects; sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system; nature environments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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