Foliage Plants Improve Concentration and Emotional Condition of Elementary School Students Performing an Intensive Assignment

Abstract

<jats:p>This study was conducted to compare the concentration and emotional condition of elementary school students performing an intensive assignment in the presence or absence of foliage plants, using electroencephalography (EEG) and a modified semantic differential method (SDM). In a crossover experimental design, 30 elementary students performed a 3-min intensive age-appropriate arithmetic assignment in the presence or absence of foliage plants. Continuous EEG monitoring in the frontal lobe was performed using a wireless dry EEG device. Immediately thereafter, subjective evaluation of emotions was performed using the SDM. The concentration of the male elementary students was significantly higher when the assignment was performed in the presence vs. absence of plants as evidenced by the increase in the ratio of spectral edge frequency of 50 and a decrease in the relative theta power spectrum in the right frontal lobe. The SDM results revealed a significant psychological relaxation when the assignment was performed in the presence of plants. Therefore, the presence of foliage plants in the space where the elementary students performed the intensive assignment led to positive effects on concentration and emotional condition.</jats:p>

Comparing Concentration Levels and Emotional States of Children Using Electroencephalography during Horticultural and Nonhorticultural Activities

“…This is because children focused on harvesting lettuce during harvesting activities by looking at the color and size of lettuce in the garden, selecting lettuce to be harvested, being careful not to injure other lettuces, and grasping the bottom of the leaf stem to harvest lettuce. In a previous study, Kim et al (2020) also reported that children's brain activity and attention skills were significantly increased when performing tasks in spaces with plants than in spaces without plants. Igarashi et al (2015) reported that the prefrontal lobes of participants were activated when observing plants.…”

“…This study involved 30 elementary school students between 10 and 13 years of age. In previous studies investigating the psycho-physiological effects of exposure to plants on humans, 30 participants were recruited as a single experimental group without a control group and showed significantly different results (Kim et al, 2020;Oh et al, 2019). Research information was posted on the bulletin boards of churches and apartments near Konkuk University to recruit participants.…”

“…Experimental procedure. This study had a crossover experimental design (Kim et al, 2020;Oh et al, 2019). Before commencing the experiment, the participants rested for 1 min on chairs in the experimental space.…”

“…Data were collected by amplifying and processing electrical signals measured via dry electrodes applied to the scalp. This device has been safety certified by the European Commission and the Federal Communications Commission (Kim et al, 2020).…”

“…Furthermore, it has recently been found that horticultural activity can improve serum tryptophan, kynurenine, and serotonin levels, which serve as biomakers for improved cognitive ability (Park et al, 2020). Another study reported that children exhibited increased brain activity and concentration when tasks were performed in spaces where plants were located (Kim et al, 2020).…”