Physiological and Psychological Responses of Viewing a Waterfall Image: A Crossover Study

Hyunju Jo, Harumi Ikei and Yoshifumi Miyazaki ()
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Hyunju Jo: Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-0882, Chiba, Japan
Harumi Ikei: Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-0882, Chiba, Japan
Yoshifumi Miyazaki: Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-0882, Chiba, Japan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Growing interest in the relaxation effect of nature has elicited demands for scientific verification of the various natural elements. This study investigated the physiological and psychological responses of 27 females in their 20 s to viewing a waterfall and urban images (control) presented via a large, high-resolution display for 90 s. High-frequency [HF] for parasympathetic nervous activity and the ratio of low-frequency (LF)/[LF + HF] for sympathetic nervous activity by heart rate variability and heart rate were recorded. Simultaneous changes in oxyhemoglobin concentration in the prefrontal cortex were recorded by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. The modified semantic differential method and Profile of Mood States Second Edition were used to assess the psychological effects on the participants after viewing each image. The results showed that viewing the waterfall image, compared with viewing the urban image, (1) increased sympathetic nervous activity; (2) provided comfortable, relaxed, and natural impressions; (3) improved mood states. In conclusion, visual contact with a waterfall image physiologically activated sympathetic nervous activity and psychologically evoked positive moods and feelings.

Keywords: heart rate variability; natural landscape image; nature therapy; physiological and psychological responses; sympathetic nervous activity; waterfall landscape (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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