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Exploring Psychophysiological Restoration and Individual Preference in the Different Environments Based on Virtual Reality

Author

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  • Tian Gao

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Tian Zhang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ling Zhu

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Yanan Gao

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China)

  • Ling Qiu

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China)

Abstract

Accumulated evidence claims that urban green spaces (UGS) have a positive impact on the physical and mental health of humans. However, little information is available to clearly reveal what the most important driving factors are for human psychophysiological restoration. In order to unveil this uncertainty, this study employed virtual reality (VR) technology to investigate the physiological (electroencephalogram, EEG), and psychological (attention, positive mood, negative mood) responses and individual preferences for different urban environments. Participants (120) were recruited and randomly assigned to experience six different types of environments varying in land use and vegetation structures, which were: Grey space, blue space, open green space, partly open green space, partly closed green space, and closed green space. The results showed that the experience of the six environmental types through VR devices had positive restorative effects on the individuals’ attentional fatigue and negative mood; however, all the participants obtained the highest levels of physiological stress restoration when asked to close their eyes for relaxation. The physiological measurements of the EEG showed no significant differences among the selected types of environments. Meanwhile, the results of the psychological measures suggested that only negative mood showed significant differences of change among the six types of environments, and while the partly open green space had the most positive effect on negative mood, the closed green space had the worst. The blue space and partly closed green space received higher recreational preference ratings than the other four environments, while the closed green space received the lowest recreational preference rating. Moreover, the findings showed that there was a strong positive correlation between people’s preferences and the improvement of their positive mood. This indicated that as the popularity of a natural environment increased, so did the benefits of human health and well-being. In addition, this study shows that VR technology may be utilized as a possible surrogate measure to real scenes in evaluating human physiological and psychological restoration in the future. The present findings can provide the theoretical basis and practical guidance for future optimal planning of urban restorative environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Tian Gao & Tian Zhang & Ling Zhu & Yanan Gao & Ling Qiu, 2019. "Exploring Psychophysiological Restoration and Individual Preference in the Different Environments Based on Virtual Reality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3102-:d:261154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. Audrey Seiz & Byoung-Suk Kweon & Christopher D. Ellis & Hyuk Oh & Kyle Pietro, 2023. "Exploring the Psychophysiological Effects of Viewing Urban Nature through Virtual Reality Using Electroencephalography and Perceived Restorativeness Scale Measures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, August.
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    6. Tianrong Xu & Nikmatul Adha Nordin & Ainoriza Mohd Aini, 2022. "Urban Green Space and Subjective Well-Being of Older People: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-29, October.
    7. Emad Alyan & Theo Combe & Dayang Rohaya Awang Rambli & Suziah Sulaiman & Frederic Merienne & Nadia Diyana Mohd Muhaiyuddin, 2021. "The Influence of Virtual Forest Walk on Physiological and Psychological Responses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    8. Liying Zhu & Sining Dong & Xin Chen & Qingqing Zhou & Fangying Li & Guangyu Wang, 2024. "Does Social Distancing Affect the Stress Reduction and Attention Restoration of College Students in Different Natural Settings?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    9. Siyun Sun & Yingyuan Chen & Sen Mu & Bo Jiang & Yiwei Lin & Tian Gao & Ling Qiu, 2021. "The Psychological Restorative Effects of Campus Environments on College Students in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study at Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    10. Zhengkai Zhang & Hanjiang Zhang & Huan Yang & Bingzhi Zhong, 2023. "Home Greenery: Alleviating Anxiety during Lockdowns with Varied Landscape Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, October.
    11. Ziliang Jin & Jiangping Wang & Xu Liu & Xu Han & Jiaojiao Qi & Jingyong Wang, 2022. "Stress Recovery Effects of Viewing Simulated Urban Parks: Landscape Types, Depressive Symptoms, and Gender Differences," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-23, December.
    12. Tianjiao Yan & Hong Leng & Qing Yuan, 2023. "The Effects of Winter Parks in Cold Regions on Cognition Recovery and Emotion Improvement of Older Adults: An Empirical Study of Changchun Parks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    13. Huixin Wang & Jing Xie & Shixian Luo & Duy Thong Ta & Qian Wang & Jiao Zhang & Daer Su & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Exploring the Interplay between Landscape Planning and Human Well-Being: A Scientometric Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    14. Amit Birenboim & Pazit Ben-Nun Bloom & Hila Levit & Itzhak Omer, 2021. "The Study of Walking, Walkability and Wellbeing in Immersive Virtual Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.
    15. Zijiao Zhang & Kangfu Zhuo & Wenhan Wei & Fu Li & Jie Yin & Liyan Xu, 2021. "Emotional Responses to the Visual Patterns of Urban Streets: Evidence from Physiological and Subjective Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-20, September.
    16. Rebecca Reece & Anna Bornioli & Isabelle Bray & Nigel Newbutt & David Satenstein & Chris Alford, 2022. "Exposure to Green, Blue and Historic Environments and Mental Well-Being: A Comparison between Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Display and Flat Screen Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Ling Qiu & Qujing Chen & Tian Gao, 2021. "The Effects of Urban Natural Environments on Preference and Self-Reported Psychological Restoration of the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.

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