Selective attention and heart rate responses to natural and urban environments

Laumann, Karin; Gärling, Tommy; Stormark, Kjell Morten

doi:10.1016/s0272-4944(02)00110-x

Cited by 365 publications

(263 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Overall, the results show that viewing forest landscapes leads to lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, enhanced HF components of HRV, and lower LF/HF. These results strongly support the findings of indoor research using heart rate and blood pressure on the effects of viewing a forest scene on recovery from stress [1,[26][27][28]. The effect of walking in a forest setting is the same as that of viewing a forest setting.…”

Section: Experimental Designsupporting

confidence: 83%

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The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan

Park

Tsunetsugu

Kasetani

et al. 2009

Environ Health Prev Med

818

585

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This paper reviews previous research on the physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing), and presents new results from field experiments conducted in 24 forests across Japan. The term Shinrin-yoku was coined by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in 1982, and can be defined as making contact with and taking in the atmosphere of the forest. In order to clarify the physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku, we conducted field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. In each experiment, 12 subjects (280 total; ages 21.7 ± 1.5 year) walked in and viewed a forest or city area. On the first day, six subjects were sent to a forest area, and the others to a city area. On the second day, each group was sent to the other area as a cross-check. Salivary cortisol, blood pressure, pulse rate, and heart rate variability were used as indices. These indices were measured in the morning at the accommodation facility before breakfast and also both before and after the walking (for 16 ± 5 min) and viewing (for 14 ± 2 min). The R-R interval was also measured during the walking and viewing periods. The results show that forest environments promote lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure, greater parasympathetic nerve activity, and lower sympathetic nerve activity than do city environments. These results will contribute to the development of a research field dedicated to forest medicine, which may be used as a strategy for preventive medicine.

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Section: Experimental Designsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…No evidence from field experiments conducted on other natural environments are available; however, Laumann et al [28] have reported that, when subjects …”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan

Park

Tsunetsugu

Kasetani

et al. 2009

Environ Health Prev Med

818

585

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Non-threatening natural environments provide a restorative setting where solace and refuge can be taken from the everyday pressures of life and environmental stressors such as noise, overcrowding and the invasion of personal space. In support of SRT, it has been shown that viewing natural environments fosters faster and greater recovery from physiological stress than viewing urban environments, for instance, by lowering blood pressure and heart rate (Hartig, Evans, Jamner, Davis & Gärling, 2003;Laumann, Gärling & Stormark, 2003;Ulrich, Simons, Losito, Fiorito, Mailes, & Zelson, 1991) or reducing hand sweating and muscle tension (Ulrich et al, 1991). Moreover, positive changes in self-reported mood tend to be greater during and after exposure to natural environments than non-natural environments (Cackowski & Nasar, 2003;Hartig et al, 2003;Ulrich et al, 1991).…”

Section: In Environmental Psychology Two Theories Have Been Devised Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…De Kort, Meijnders, Sponselee, & Ijsselsteijn, 2006;Laumann, et al, 2003;Ulrich et al, 1991). Heart rate was measured using an A&D UA-767 digital blood pressure and heart rate monitor.…”

Section: Attention Was Measured Using the Necker Cube Pattern Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

When walking in nature is not restorative—The role of prospect and refuge

2013

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“…Although the aim of our review was to focus on research that has been carried out in Japan or is currently being carried out, an increasing number of studies are now emerging in various countries [52][53][54][55][56][57][58]. Thus far, these have been mostly psychological investigations; however, some of them refer to the importance of physiological investigations.…”

Section: Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku” (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan

Tsunetsugu

Park

Miyazaki

2009

Environ Health Prev Med

301

203

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''Shinrin-yoku'', which can be defined as ''taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing'', has been receiving increasing attention in Japan in recent years for its capacity to provide relaxation and reduce stress. Since 2004, the authors of this paper have been involved in an investigation designed to ascertain the physiological effects of ''Shinrin-yoku'' within the framework of the ''Therapeutic Effects of Forests'' project. We have conducted physiological experiments, both in actual forests and in the laboratory, to elucidate the physiological effects on individuals of exposure to the total environment of forests or to only certain elements of this environment, such as the odor of wood, the sound of running stream water, and the scenery of the forest. We have obtained physiological measurements of central nervous activity, autonomic nervous activity, and biomarkers reflecting stress response that can be applied in this line of approach. Using these measurements, we have summarized the separate elements of forests in terms of the five senses. We have also reviewed a selection of field studies and introduced a number of results from ongoing projects as well as those from early studies. Future perspectives are also discussed.

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Selective attention and heart rate responses to natural and urban environments

Cited by 365 publications

References 21 publications

The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan

The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan

When walking in nature is not restorative—The role of prospect and refuge

Trends in research related to “Shinrin-yoku” (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing) in Japan

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