Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality
Urban landscape parks play a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for citizens. Different types of landscapes offer varying levels of comfort experiences. However, the assessment of landscape comfort primarily relies on subjective evaluations and basic physiological measurements, whi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/933 |
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| author | Hongguo Ren Ziming Zheng Jing Zhang Qingqin Wang Yujun Wang |
| author_facet | Hongguo Ren Ziming Zheng Jing Zhang Qingqin Wang Yujun Wang |
| author_sort | Hongguo Ren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban landscape parks play a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for citizens. Different types of landscapes offer varying levels of comfort experiences. However, the assessment of landscape comfort primarily relies on subjective evaluations and basic physiological measurements, which lack sufficient quantification of relevant data. This study employed electroencephalography (EEG) technology and subjective questionnaire evaluation methods. Participants observed two sets of landscape demonstration videos using virtual reality (VR) devices, and EEG alpha values and subjective evaluation scores were collected to assess the comfort levels of free-form landscape and regular-form landscape. Additionally, this study explored the correlation between landscape characteristics and physiological comfort. The analysis of the results showed that: 1. The average amplitude of EEG alpha waves recorded from 11 electrodes in the left temporal lobe and right parietal lobe of the participants was higher after they watched the free-form landscape demonstration. The increased alpha values suggest that free-form landscapes are more likely to induce physiological comfort in these specific brain regions. In contrast, regular-form landscape was found to induce higher alpha values at seven specific electrodes located in the occipital cortex, right temporal lobe, and central regions of the participants. In general, free-form landscape provided physiological comfort to a greater number of brain regions. 2. The two groups of landscapes exhibit distinct subjective cognitive differences in terms of their landscape characteristics. These differences, ranked in order of magnitude, include rhythmicity, sense of order, sense of security, and sense of dependence. 3. This study examined the α-waves of specific brain regions, including the right and left temporal lobe and occipital lobe, as well as subjective scoring. It discovered that the rhythmicity, degree of variation, degree of color, and sense of nature of a landscape impact the α-wave value of electrodes in different brain regions. Moreover, there exists a certain linear relationship between the four landscape features and the α-wave values in different regions of the brain. The results of this study provide some reference for the creation of a comfortable landscape design. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:57:25Z |
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| id | doaj.art-01bbe5dd7e65462db69cf019f8564062 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:57:25Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-01bbe5dd7e65462db69cf019f85640622024-01-29T13:46:08ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-01-0114293310.3390/app14020933Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual RealityHongguo Ren0Ziming Zheng1Jing Zhang2Qingqin Wang3Yujun Wang4International Research Center of Architecture and Emotion, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056009, ChinaInternational Research Center of Architecture and Emotion, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056009, ChinaInternational Research Center of Architecture and Emotion, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056009, ChinaThe State Key Laboratory of Building Safety and Built Environment, China Academy of Building Research, Beijing 100013, ChinaInternational Research Center of Architecture and Emotion, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056009, ChinaUrban landscape parks play a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for citizens. Different types of landscapes offer varying levels of comfort experiences. However, the assessment of landscape comfort primarily relies on subjective evaluations and basic physiological measurements, which lack sufficient quantification of relevant data. This study employed electroencephalography (EEG) technology and subjective questionnaire evaluation methods. Participants observed two sets of landscape demonstration videos using virtual reality (VR) devices, and EEG alpha values and subjective evaluation scores were collected to assess the comfort levels of free-form landscape and regular-form landscape. Additionally, this study explored the correlation between landscape characteristics and physiological comfort. The analysis of the results showed that: 1. The average amplitude of EEG alpha waves recorded from 11 electrodes in the left temporal lobe and right parietal lobe of the participants was higher after they watched the free-form landscape demonstration. The increased alpha values suggest that free-form landscapes are more likely to induce physiological comfort in these specific brain regions. In contrast, regular-form landscape was found to induce higher alpha values at seven specific electrodes located in the occipital cortex, right temporal lobe, and central regions of the participants. In general, free-form landscape provided physiological comfort to a greater number of brain regions. 2. The two groups of landscapes exhibit distinct subjective cognitive differences in terms of their landscape characteristics. These differences, ranked in order of magnitude, include rhythmicity, sense of order, sense of security, and sense of dependence. 3. This study examined the α-waves of specific brain regions, including the right and left temporal lobe and occipital lobe, as well as subjective scoring. It discovered that the rhythmicity, degree of variation, degree of color, and sense of nature of a landscape impact the α-wave value of electrodes in different brain regions. Moreover, there exists a certain linear relationship between the four landscape features and the α-wave values in different regions of the brain. The results of this study provide some reference for the creation of a comfortable landscape design.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/933free-form landscaperegular-form landscapevirtual reality (VR)EEGalpha valuelandscape characteristics |
| spellingShingle | Hongguo Ren Ziming Zheng Jing Zhang Qingqin Wang Yujun Wang Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality Applied Sciences free-form landscape regular-form landscape virtual reality (VR) EEG alpha value landscape characteristics |
| title | Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality |
| title_full | Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality |
| title_fullStr | Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality |
| title_short | Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Comfort Evaluation of Free-Form and Regular-Form Landscapes in Virtual Reality |
| title_sort | electroencephalography eeg based comfort evaluation of free form and regular form landscapes in virtual reality |
| topic | free-form landscape regular-form landscape virtual reality (VR) EEG alpha value landscape characteristics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/2/933 |
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