Time-series variations of blood pressure due to contact with wood

Morikawa, Takeshi; Miyazaki, Y.; Kobayashi, Shígeo

doi:10.1007/bf00833417

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…It is thought that the touch of a natural pothos cause an unconscious physiological calming reaction. This supports the results shown in the tactile experiments with wood of Miyazaki et al [59] and Morikawa et al [60]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…It seems that as a result of processing tactile stimuli of a leaf of natural pothos, people were made to produce physiological calmness from an unconscious state. The psychological index and the physiological index did not coincide in the previous study [60], and it has been shown that the physical reaction and the cognition of ‘pleasant or unpleasant’ emotions did not necessarily correspond.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

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Psychological and physiological effect in humans of touching plant foliage - using the semantic differential method and cerebral activity as indicators

Koga

Iwasaki

2013

J Physiol Anthropol

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BackgroundNumerous studies have reported on the healing powers of plants and nature, but there have not been so many instances of experimental research. In particular, there are very few psychological and physiological studies using tactile stimuli. This study examines the psychological and physiological effects of touching plant foliage by using an evaluation profile of the subjects’ impressions and investigating cerebral blood flow.MethodsThe subjects were 14 young Japanese men aged from 21 to 27 years (mean ± standard deviation: 23.6 ± 2.4). With their eyes closed, the subjects touched four different tactile samples including a leaf of natural pothos (Epipremnum aureum). The physiological indices were compared before and after each stimulus. Psychological indices were obtained using a ‘semantic differential’ method.ResultsThe fabric stimulus gave people ‘soft’ and ‘rough’ impressions, ‘kind’, ‘peaceful’ and ‘pleasant’ feelings psychologically, and a sense of physiological calm. On the other hand, the metal stimulus gave people ‘cold’, ‘smooth’ and ‘hard’ impressions and an image of something ‘artificial’. The metal stimulus caused a stress response in human cerebral blood flow although its evaluation in terms of ‘pleasant or unpleasant’ was neutral. There were no remarkable differences between the stimuli of natural and artificial pothos compared with other types of stimulus psychologically. However, only the natural pothos stimulus showed a sense of physiological calm in the same appearance as the fabric stimulus.ConclusionsThis study shows that people experience an unconscious calming reaction to touching a plant. It is to be concluded that plants are an indispensable element of the human environment.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Psychological and physiological effect in humans of touching plant foliage - using the semantic differential method and cerebral activity as indicators

Koga

Iwasaki

2013

J Physiol Anthropol

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“…Morikawa et al [74] examined the effects on systolic blood pressure and pulse rate of contact with wood or artificial substances. The participants were 19 female students aged between 20 and 29 years.…”

Section: Tactile Stimulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological effects of wood on humans: a review

2016

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It is empirically known that wood can cause a comfort enhancement effect in humans. On the other hand, not enough scientific knowledge based on evidence-based research is available on this subject. However, data using physiological indices have increasingly accumulated in recent years. This review provides an overview of the current situation for peer-reviewed reports related to the physiological effects of wood. We reviewed reports that elucidated the effects of wood-derived stimulations on the olfactory, visual, auditory, and tactile sensations using physiological indices such as brain activity (e.g., near-infrared spectroscopy) and autonomic nervous activity (e.g., heart rate variability and blood pressure). It became clear that many studies were limited by (1) a small number of participants, mostly aged in their 20s; (2) use of only a single stimulus (e.g., only olfactory or only visual), or (3) an incomplete experimental design. In addition, this review examined the field of forest therapy, for which there is abundant research. Further study is needed to elucidate the physiological effects of wood on humans.

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“…Regarding the physiological effects of tactile stimulation by wood, Morikawa et al [15] reported differential effects on blood pressure from touching plates of hinoki wood vs. artificial material. Sakuragawa et al [16] examined differences in the effects of tactile stimulation on human physiology that resulted from materials at different temperatures (cool, room temperature, and warm).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological effects of touching hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

2018

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This study aimed to clarify the physiological effects of touching hinoki cypress (hereinafter called "hinoki") (Chamaecyparis obtusa) wood with the palm of the right hand on brain activity and autonomic nervous activity. Twenty-two female university students (mean age 21.1 ± 0.2 years) participated in the study. As an indicator of brain activity, oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations were measured in the left/right prefrontal cortex using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used as an indicator of autonomic nervous activity. The high-frequency (HF) component of HRV, which reflected parasympathetic nervous activity, and the low-frequency (LF)/HF ratio, which reflected sympathetic nervous activity, were measured. Plate (300 × 300 mm) of uncoated hinoki was used as tactile stimulation. Marble was used as a control material. After sitting at rest with their eyes closed, the participants touched the materials for 90 s with their eyes still closed. The results showed that tactile stimulation with hinoki significantly decreased oxy-Hb concentration in the left prefrontal cortex and increased ln(HF) reflected parasympathetic nervous activity compared with marble. In conclusion, our study showed that touching hinoki wood with the palm calms prefrontal cortex activity and increases parasympathetic nervous activity, thereby inducing physiological relaxation.

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Time-series variations of blood pressure due to contact with wood

Cited by 26 publications

References 5 publications

Psychological and physiological effect in humans of touching plant foliage - using the semantic differential method and cerebral activity as indicators

Psychological and physiological effect in humans of touching plant foliage - using the semantic differential method and cerebral activity as indicators

Physiological effects of wood on humans: a review

Physiological effects of touching hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa)

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