Physiological Effects of Viewing Bonsai in Elderly Patients Undergoing Rehabilitation

The benefits of various nature-derived stimuli that can be used for stress relief and relaxation has recently gained immense attention; however, there are very few studies about their influence on elderly patients. The present study aims to present the effects of viewing bonsai on autonomic nervous activity, prefrontal cortex activity, and subjective assessment findings of psychological relaxation in elderly patients undergoing rehabilitation. Fourteen participants aged 64–91 years (mean age ± standard deviation, 78.6 ± 9.6 years) participated in this study. Miniature potted 10-year-old Japanese cypress bonsai trees were used as visual stimuli. Participants viewed the bonsai for 1 min, and the control comprised of no experimental stimulus. Physiological effects on autonomic nervous activity were assessed by measuring the heart rate variability (HRV) and pulse rate. The effects on prefrontal cortex activity were determined using near-infrared spectroscopy, which involved assessment of oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the left and right prefrontal cortices. Subjective evaluations were achieved by the modified semantic differential method. Viewing bonsai resulted in a significant increase in parasympathetic nervous activity, a significant decrease in sympathetic nervous activity, and a significant increase in the perceptions of feeling “comfortable” and “relaxed.” In conclusion, our findings indicated that viewing bonsai induces physiological and psychological relaxation.

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Physiological effects of touching sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) with the palm of the hand

Journal of Wood Science ◽

10.1186/s10086-019-1827-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Harumi Ikei ◽

Chorong Song ◽

Yoshifumi Miyazaki

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Cryptomeria Japonica ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Steel Wire ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Entropy Method ◽

Sympathetic Nervous Activity ◽

Physiological Effects ◽

Sympathetic Nervous

Abstract Wood is used as an interior material in Japan, and it is empirically known that contact with wood induces relaxation in humans. However, evidential data regarding these physiological effects are lacking. In this study, we examined the physiological effects of tactile stimulation based on measurements of brain and autonomic nervous activities by using the wood of sugi (Cryptomeria japonica). Twenty-one female university students (mean age, 22.0 ± 2.0 years) participated in the study. Oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were determined using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. High frequency (HF), denoting parasympathetic nervous activity, and the ratio of low frequency (LF)/(LF + HF), indicating sympathetic nervous activity, were measured using heart rate variability. HF (0.15–0.40 Hz) and LF (0.04–0.15 Hz) components were calculated by the maximum entropy method. The wood material surfaces were finished by: (1) brushing with a stainless steel wire brush and (2) sanding with a belt sander. A marble plate served as a comparator. The palm of each participant’s right hand touched each material for 90 s. Touching brushed or sanded sugi significantly decreased oxy-Hb concentrations in the left and right prefrontal cortices, increased ln(HF), and decreased the ln(LF/(LF + HF)) ratio compared with touching marble. Thus, our findings indicate that compared with touching marble, touching sugi with the palm induces physiological relaxation, as indicated by calmer prefrontal cortex activity, higher parasympathetic nervous activity, and lower sympathetic nervous activity.

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Physiological Effects of Touching the Wood of Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) with the Soles of the Feet

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15102135 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 2135 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Harumi Ikei ◽

Chorong Song ◽

Yoshifumi Miyazaki

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Subjective Evaluation ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Chamaecyparis Obtusa ◽

Sympathetic Nervous Activity ◽

Physiological Effects ◽

Hinoki Cypress ◽

Sympathetic Nervous ◽

Soles Of The Feet

We clarified the physiological effects of tactile stimulation of the soles of the feet with the wood of the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) based on measurements of prefrontal cortex and autonomic nervous activities. Nineteen female university-attending students (age: 21.2 ± 0.3 years) were included. Oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were determined by using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. The high frequency (HF) indicating parasympathetic nervous activity and the ratio of low frequency (LF)/HF indicating sympathetic nervous activity were measured using heart rate variability. To evaluate the psychological effects caused by contact with the materials, the modified semantic differential method was used. The soles of the participants’ feet were touched to a 600 × 600-mm plate made of Hinoki, which was finished in non-coating and brushing for 90 s. A marble plate served as the control. Next, subjective evaluation tests were administered to the participants. Compared with touching marble, touching Hinoki significantly (1) decreased the oxy-Hb concentrations in the left and right prefrontal cortices, which indicates decreased prefrontal cortex activity, (2) increased ln(HF), which indicates increased parasympathetic nervous activity, (3) decreased ln(LF/HF) ratio, which indicates decreased sympathetic nervous activity. Additionally, (4) according to subjective evaluations, the participants perceived themselves as being more “comfortable,” “relaxed,” “natural,” “warm,” “uneven,” “dry,” and “soft” after touching Hinoki. Thus, our cumulative findings indicate that touching Hinoki with the soles of the feet induces physiological relaxation.

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Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16152649 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (15) ◽

pp. 2649 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jo ◽

Song ◽

Ikei ◽

Enomoto ◽

Kobayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

High Resolution ◽

High Frequency ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Subjective Evaluation ◽

Nervous Activity ◽

Mood States ◽

High Frequency Component ◽

Sympathetic Nervous Activity

Exposure to natural sounds is known to induce feelings of relaxation; however, only few studies have provided scientific evidence on its physiological effects. This study examined prefrontal cortex and autonomic nervous activities in response to forest sound. A total of 29 female university students (mean age 22.3 ± 2.1 years) were exposed to high-resolution sounds of a forest or city for 60 s, using headphones. Oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the prefrontal cortex were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy. Heart rate, the high-frequency component of heart rate variability (which reflects parasympathetic nervous activity), and the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency (LF/HF) components (which reflects sympathetic nervous activity) were measured. Subjective evaluation was performed using the modified semantic differential method and profiles of mood states. Exposure to the forest sound resulted in the following significant differences compared with exposure to city sound: decreased oxy-Hb concentrations in the right prefrontal cortex; decreased ln(LF/HF); decreased heart rate; improved feelings described as “comfortable,’’ “relaxed,” and “natural”; and improved mood states. The findings of this study demonstrated that forest-derived auditory stimulation induced physiological and psychological relaxation effects.

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