Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources
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...
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doaj-7828efecbe904a1f9b9bf9c4db2cfdac2020-11-25T01:25:42ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012019-07-011615264910.3390/ijerph16152649ijerph16152649Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound SourcesHyunju Jo0Chorong Song1Harumi Ikei2Seiya Enomoto3Hiromitsu Kobayashi4Yoshifumi Miyazaki5Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanDepartment of Wood Engineering, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, JapanJVCKENWOOD Victor Entertainment Corporation, 1-2-20 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011, JapanDepartment of Nursing, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, 1-1 Gakuendai, Kahoku, Ishikawa 929-1210, JapanCenter for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, JapanExposure 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/15/2649forest soundnatural soundphysiological relaxation effectsprefrontal cortex activityautonomic nervous activitynear-infrared spectroscopyheart rate variabilityheart ratesemantic differential methodprofile of mood states |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Hyunju Jo Chorong Song Harumi Ikei Seiya Enomoto Hiromitsu Kobayashi Yoshifumi Miyazaki |
spellingShingle |
Hyunju Jo Chorong Song Harumi Ikei Seiya Enomoto Hiromitsu Kobayashi Yoshifumi Miyazaki Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health forest sound natural sound physiological relaxation effects prefrontal cortex activity autonomic nervous activity near-infrared spectroscopy heart rate variability heart rate semantic differential method profile of mood states |
author_facet |
Hyunju Jo Chorong Song Harumi Ikei Seiya Enomoto Hiromitsu Kobayashi Yoshifumi Miyazaki |
author_sort |
Hyunju Jo |
title |
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources |
title_short |
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources |
title_full |
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources |
title_fullStr |
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources |
title_sort |
physiological and psychological effects of forest and urban sounds using high-resolution sound sources |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2019-07-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
forest sound natural sound physiological relaxation effects prefrontal cortex activity autonomic nervous activity near-infrared spectroscopy heart rate variability heart rate semantic differential method profile of mood states |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/15/2649 |
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