Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Neural Emotional Response to the Vegetation Density and Integrated Sound Environment in a Green Space

Abstract

Emotion plays an important role in physical and mental health. Green space is an environment conducive to physical and mental recovery and influences human emotions through visual and auditory stimulation. Both the visual environment and sound environment of a green space are important factors affecting its quality. Most of the previous relevant studies have focused solely on the visual or sound environment of green spaces and its impacts. This study focused on the combination of vegetation density (VD) and integrated sound environment (ISE) based on neural emotional evaluation criteria. VD was used as the visual variable, with three levels: high (H), moderate (M) and low (L). ISE was used as the sound variable, with four levels: low-decibel natural and low-decibel artificial sounds (LL), low-decibel natural and high-decibel artificial sounds (LH), high-decibel natural and low-decibel artificial sounds (HL) and high-decibel natural and high-decibel artificial sounds (HH). These two variables were combined into 12 unique groups. A total of 360 volunteer college students were recruited and randomly assigned to the 12 groups (N = 30). All 12 groups underwent the same 5 min high-pressure learning task (pretest baseline), followed by a 5 min audio-visual recovery (posttest). Six indicators of neural emotion (engagement, excitement, focus, interest, relaxation and stress) were dynamically measured by an Emotiv EPOC X device during the pretest and posttest. Analysis of covariance was used to determine the main and coupled effects of the variables. (1) VD and ISE have significant effects on human neural emotions. In moderate- and high-VD spaces, artificial sound levels may have a positive effect on excitement. (2) A higher VD is more likely to result in excitatory neural emotion expression. (3) Low-VD and high-VD spaces have a higher degree of visual continuity. Both extremely low and extremely high VDs result in a higher expression of stressful emotions than observed for a moderate VD. (4) High-decibel artificial sounds are more likely to attract attention, possibly because artificial sounds are easier to recognize than natural sounds. However, when both the natural and artificial sounds are low, it is difficult to induce higher tones, and the lower the artificial sound decibel level, the easier it is to relax. Additionally, under the influence of an ISE, attention recovery and stress recovery may be negatively correlated. The results show that an appropriate combination of VD and ISE can improve the health benefits of a green space and thus the well-being of visitors.

Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Neural Emotional Response to Flower Arrangements (FAs) on Normal Elderly (NE) and Cognitively Impaired Elderly (CIE)

“…However, there was a significant reduction in the Focus of NE ( Figure 3 C), while there was no difference in it for CIE. We know one important theory, namely, Attention Restoration Theory (ART) [ 46 , 47 , 48 ]. In green spaces, the walking group had lower “Focus” than the sitting group [ 36 ]. The walking group’s directional attention was reduced.…”

“…Electroencephalography (EEG), which records electrical activity inside the brain, is commonly used in research and clinical settings. It has been widely used to reflect the neural emotions of the human brain [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], and different neural emotional indicators (engagement, excitation, focus, meditation, frustration, interest, relaxation and stress) can be output through an EEG device [ 36 , 37 ]. Because emotional indicators are relatively objective compared with nonphysical cues, EEG is reliable for emotional recognition [ 38 ].…”

Adequate Green: A Study on the Impact of Continuous Green Landscape, Both Indoors and Outdoors, on the Physiological and Psychological Recovery of Adolescents

“…A relatively stable and coherent green landscape also promotes attention recovery [9].Although the focus of this study is not biodiversity, the addition of natural elements from a green curtain wall to an urban scenic forest clearly enhances biodiversity. Moreover, a higher level of density is more likely to evoke excitatory nervous emotions [29].The laboratory conducts a relatively continuous green immersion test. The main effect analysis shows that the main effect of time is significant, indicating that the subjects' attention and arousal levels increase over time.…”

“…Therefore, the Rab index and some α wave channels increased significantly. Although a stable and coherent environment is conducive to attention recovery and relaxation [9], and facilitates concentrated emotional expression [29], the lack of spatial communication in sedentary groups may lead to boredom and hinder relaxation. We observed a significant time main effect of θ waves.…”

Neuro-emotions based on electroencephalograph response to different color Ardisia mamillata Hance plants in elderly people with and without cognitive impairment

“…They found that focus value decreased in normal elderly participants, while engagement and interest values increased in elderly people with cognitive impairment. Zeng et al ( 47 ) found that vegetation density (VD) and integrated sound environment (ISE) had significant effects on the neuro-emotions of college students, with higher VD likely leading to the expression of excitatory neuro-emotions. In the study by Neale et al ( 44 ) used five neuro-emotional parameters provided by EEG to compare the walking status of the elderly in three different urban environments, and they found that compared with the busy and quiet urban environment, walking in urban green spaces has higher levels of “engagement” and better restorative effects in the elderly.…”