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The Mood-Improving Effect of Viewing Images of Nature and Its Neural Substrate

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  • Rikuto Yamashita

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Chong Chen

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Toshio Matsubara

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Kosuke Hagiwara

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Masato Inamura

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Kohei Aga

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Masako Hirotsu

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Tomoe Seki

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Akiyo Takao

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Erika Nakagawa

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Ayumi Kobayashi

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Yuko Fujii

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Keiko Hirata

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

  • Harumi Ikei

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 277-0882, Japan)

  • Yoshifumi Miyazaki

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 277-0882, Japan)

  • Shin Nakagawa

    (Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Japan)

Abstract

It has been recently suggested that contact with nature improves mood via reducing the activity of the prefrontal cortex. However, the specific regions within the prefrontal cortex that underlie this effect remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the specific regions involved in the mood-improving effect of viewing images of nature using a 52-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Specifically, we focused on the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), two regions associated with affective processing and control. In a randomized controlled crossover experiment, we assigned thirty young adults to view images of nature and built environments for three minutes each in a counterbalanced order. During image viewing, participants wore a fNIRS probe cap and had their oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) measured. Immediately following each image viewing, participants indicated their mood in terms of comfortableness, relaxation, and vigor. Results showed that viewing images of nature significantly increased comfortableness and relaxation but not vigor compared to viewing images of built environments, with a large effect size. Meanwhile, the concentration of oxy-Hb in only the right OFC and none of the other regions significantly decreased while viewing the images of nature compared to built environments, with a medium effect size. We speculate that viewing images of nature improves mood by reducing the activity of or calming the OFC. Since the OFC is hyperactive in patients with depression and anxiety at rest, contact with nature might have therapeutic effects for them.

Suggested Citation

  • Rikuto Yamashita & Chong Chen & Toshio Matsubara & Kosuke Hagiwara & Masato Inamura & Kohei Aga & Masako Hirotsu & Tomoe Seki & Akiyo Takao & Erika Nakagawa & Ayumi Kobayashi & Yuko Fujii & Keiko Hira, 2021. "The Mood-Improving Effect of Viewing Images of Nature and Its Neural Substrate," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5500-:d:558895
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2016. "Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, August.
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    8. Juyoung Lee, 2017. "Experimental Study on the Health Benefits of Garden Landscape," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, July.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Nienke de Vlieger & Marc T. P. Adam & Pierre-Henry Nicolay & Jessica Piper & Simone Dohle & Clare E. Collins & Tamara Bucher, 2024. "Are Australian Food Companies Using Nature Imagery as a Marketing Strategy? A Content Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-16, November.
    4. Chie Imamura & Kiyomi Sakakibara & Kyosuke Arai & Hideki Ohira & Yuhei Yamaguchi & Hitoshi Yamada, 2022. "Effect of Indoor Forest Bathing on Reducing Feelings of Fatigue Using Cerebral Activity as an Indicator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Vicent Balanzá-Martínez & Jose Cervera-Martínez, 2022. "Lifestyle Prescription for Depression with a Focus on Nature Exposure and Screen Time: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.

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