Exploring the Psychophysiological Effects of Viewing Urban Nature through Virtual Reality Using Electroencephalography and Perceived Restorativeness Scale Measures

Audrey Seiz, Byoung-Suk Kweon (), Christopher D. Ellis, Hyuk Oh and Kyle Pietro
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Audrey Seiz: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Byoung-Suk Kweon: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Christopher D. Ellis: Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Hyuk Oh: Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Kyle Pietro: Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-16

Abstract: Researchers have long explored how humans respond psychologically and physiologically to distinct landscapes and natural features. Walking in nature and viewing photographs of natural landscapes have been shown to reduce stress measured through the physiological responses of blood pressure, salivary cortisol concentration, and pulse rate. Exposure to natural landscapes has also been shown to improve feelings of relaxation and positive emotion. Little research, however, has focused on the potential impact of visualization through virtual reality (VR). This study explores how brain frequencies and psychological measures test the restorativeness of a virtual place. Utilizing VR, twenty-one participants observed a virtual, vegetated, vacant site as it exists currently and then again as a reimagined greenspace. The psychological responses were analyzed using the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), and the psychophysiological responses were analyzed using electroencephalography (EEG) with a specific focus on alpha and beta brain frequencies in the frontal and parietal lobes. Findings indicated that the perceived restorativeness of the designed site increased for two of the three determined factors. Alpha brain frequencies were not significantly different when viewing the vacant versus the designed site; however, beta brain frequencies demonstrated a marginally significant effect of sex with male beta power spectral density decreasing when viewing the designed site and female beta brain frequencies increasing. This research suggests that redesigning a vegetated urban vacant site can positively impact perceived restorativeness and unveils a potential gender effect present in beta brain frequencies.

Keywords: EEG; virtual reality; stress reduction theory; attention restoration theory; nature effects (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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