Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women
Empirically, viewing nature landscapes, including mountains, can promote relaxation. This study aimed to examine the physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation using an autumn foliage mountain landscape image on autonomic nervous and brain activities. We included 27 female univers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/9/1492 |
| _version_ | 1797488235227643904 |
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| author | Hyunju Jo Harumi Ikei Yoshifumi Miyazaki |
| author_facet | Hyunju Jo Harumi Ikei Yoshifumi Miyazaki |
| author_sort | Hyunju Jo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Empirically, viewing nature landscapes, including mountains, can promote relaxation. This study aimed to examine the physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation using an autumn foliage mountain landscape image on autonomic nervous and brain activities. We included 27 female university students who viewed mountain and city (control) landscape images displayed on a large, high-resolution display for 90 seconds. As an indicator of autonomic nervous activity, heart rate variability (high frequency [HF], reflecting parasympathetic nervous activity, and low frequency/high frequency [LF/HF], reflecting sympathetic nervous activity) and heart rate were recorded. Simultaneously, as an indicator of brain activity, oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were assessed using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. Viewing the mountain landscape image significantly increased HF, indicating increased parasympathetic nervous activity. Furthermore, the visual stimulation using the mountain image induced comfortable, relaxed, and natural feelings, as well as improved mood states. In conclusion, viewing an autumn foliage mountain landscape image via large display induced physiological and psychological relaxation in women in their 20s. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:00:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45e859650858404892ca957c0439c18b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:00:12Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-45e859650858404892ca957c0439c18b2023-11-23T16:18:24ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-09-01139149210.3390/f13091492Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young WomenHyunju Jo0Harumi Ikei1Yoshifumi Miyazaki2Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa 277-0882, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa 277-0882, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa 277-0882, JapanEmpirically, viewing nature landscapes, including mountains, can promote relaxation. This study aimed to examine the physiological and psychological effects of visual stimulation using an autumn foliage mountain landscape image on autonomic nervous and brain activities. We included 27 female university students who viewed mountain and city (control) landscape images displayed on a large, high-resolution display for 90 seconds. As an indicator of autonomic nervous activity, heart rate variability (high frequency [HF], reflecting parasympathetic nervous activity, and low frequency/high frequency [LF/HF], reflecting sympathetic nervous activity) and heart rate were recorded. Simultaneously, as an indicator of brain activity, oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were assessed using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. Viewing the mountain landscape image significantly increased HF, indicating increased parasympathetic nervous activity. Furthermore, the visual stimulation using the mountain image induced comfortable, relaxed, and natural feelings, as well as improved mood states. In conclusion, viewing an autumn foliage mountain landscape image via large display induced physiological and psychological relaxation in women in their 20s.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/9/1492autumn mountainheart rate variabilitynatural landscape imagenature therapynear-infrared spectroscopyphysiological and psychological relaxation |
| spellingShingle | Hyunju Jo Harumi Ikei Yoshifumi Miyazaki Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women Forests autumn mountain heart rate variability natural landscape image nature therapy near-infrared spectroscopy physiological and psychological relaxation |
| title | Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women |
| title_full | Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women |
| title_fullStr | Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women |
| title_short | Physiological and Psychological Benefits of Viewing an Autumn Foliage Mountain Landscape Image among Young Women |
| title_sort | physiological and psychological benefits of viewing an autumn foliage mountain landscape image among young women |
| topic | autumn mountain heart rate variability natural landscape image nature therapy near-infrared spectroscopy physiological and psychological relaxation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/9/1492 |
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