Analysis of Electroencephalogram and Electrocardiogram Changes in Adults in National Healing Forests Environment

Abstract

This study analyzed the changes in Electroencephalogram(EEG) and Electrocardiogram(ECG) depending on the healing environment in order to find a way to improve the forest healing program based on the healing environment in response to the demand for qualitative improvement of the program since the program is a charged service. This study selected eight sites running forest healing programs at four national healing forests (i.e., Saneum, Cheongtaesan, Daegwanryeng, and Jangseong)-two routes per national healing forest-considering forest environments. This study chose NUMBER standard sampling plots (20×20m) and measured three atmospheric environment items, seven physical environment items, two soil environment items, and eight vegetation environment items including forest sound and anion at each plot to evaluate physiological changes in it. EEG and ECG, which have been widely used in forest healing evaluation, were utilized as criteria. Seventy three subjects were selected with taking the age, drug, caffeine, smoking, and the time of last meal into consideration. As a result, EEG changes were correlated with three atmospheric environment items, six physical environment items, one soil environment item, and two vegetation environment items. ECG changes were significantly correlated with two atmospheric environment items, six physical environment items, two soil environment items, and two vegetation environment items (p<.05). It is expected that 11 environmental factors such as temperature, density, and altitude affecting EEG (e.g., alpha balance and gamma balance) and ECG (e.g., HRV mean) could be used as effective tools in developing more differentiated programs for improving healing effects.