IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i8p4305-d538737.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Changes to Architectural Elements on Human Relaxation-Arousal Responses: Based on VR and EEG

Author

Listed:
  • Sanghee Kim

    (School of Architecture, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • Hyejin Park

    (School of Architecture, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea)

  • Seungyeon Choo

    (School of Architecture, Kyungpook National University, 80, Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu 41566, Korea)

Abstract

This study combines electroencephalogram (EEG) with virtual reality (VR) technologies to measure the EEG responses of users experiencing changes to architectural elements. We analyze the ratio of alpha to beta waves (RAB) indicators to determine the pre- and poststimulation changes. In our methodology, thirty-three females experience using private rooms in a postpartum care center participated in the experiment. Their brain waves are measured while they are experiencing the VR space of a private room in a postpartum care center. Three architectural elements (i.e., aspect ratio of space, ceiling height, and window ratio) are varied in the VR space. In addition, a self-report questionnaire is administered to examine whether the responses are consistent with the results of the EEG response analysis. As a result, statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) are observed in the changes in the RAB indicator values of the pre- and poststimulation EEG while the subjects are experiencing the VR space where the architectural elements are varied. That is, the effects of the changes to architectural elements on users’ relaxation-arousal responses are statistically verified. Notably, in all the RAB indicator values where significant differences are observed, the poststimulation RAB decreases in comparison to the prestimulus ratios, which is indicative of the arousal response. However, the arousal levels vary across the architectural elements, which implies it would be possible to find out the elements that could induce less arousal response using the proposed method. Moreover, following the experience in the VR space, certain lobes of the brain (F4 and P3 EEG channels) show statistically significant differences in the relaxation-arousal responses. Unlike previous studies, which measured users’ physiological responses to abstract and primordial spatial elements, this study extends the boundaries of the literature by applying the architectural elements applicable to design in practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanghee Kim & Hyejin Park & Seungyeon Choo, 2021. "Effects of Changes to Architectural Elements on Human Relaxation-Arousal Responses: Based on VR and EEG," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-28, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4305-:d:538737
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4305/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4305/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joan Meyers-Levy & Rui (Juliet) Zhu, 2007. "The Influence of Ceiling Height: The Effect of Priming on the Type of Processing That People Use," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 34(2), pages 174-186, June.
    2. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo & Nicolas Escoffier & Jane Chan & Tan Puay Yok, 2018. "Window View and the Brain: Effects of Floor Level and Green Cover on the Alpha and Beta Rhythms in a Passive Exposure EEG Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Wei-Yin Chang & Ming-Te Lo & Chin-Fei Huang, 2019. "The Influence of Emotional Environmental Pictures on Behavior Intentions: The Evidence of Neuroscience Technology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. GyeongAe Seomun & Wonjung Noh, 2021. "Differences in Student Brain Activation from Digital Learning Based on Risk of Digital Media Addiction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Yi-Na & Li, Yan & Chen, Haipeng (Allan) & Wei, Jiuchang, 2023. "How verbal and non-verbal cues in a CEO apology for a corporate crisis affect a firm’s social disapproval," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Chenjing Wu & Fuqun Liang & Xiaoling Liang & Chuangbing Huang & Hua Wang & Xianyou He & Wei Zhang & Don Rojas & Yan Duan, 2021. "Spacious Environments Make Us Tolerant—The Role of Emotion and Metaphor," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Yu-Shan Athena Chen & Lien-Ti Bei, 2019. "Free the brand: How a logo frame influences the potentiality of brand extensions," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(4), pages 349-364, July.
    4. JinHyo Joseph Yun & Xiaofei Zhao & Tan Yigitcanlar & DooSeok Lee & HeungJu Ahn, 2018. "Architectural Design and Open Innovation Symbiosis: Insights from Research Campuses, Manufacturing Systems, and Innovation Districts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, November.
    5. repec:aly:journl:202210 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Haghbayan Sara & Malek Mohammad Reza & Tashayo Behnam, 2020. "Visual Description of the Indoor Space of Real Estate in Crowd-Sourcing Environments," Real Estate Management and Valuation, Sciendo, vol. 28(3), pages 91-103, September.
    7. Izadi, Anoosha & Rudd, Melanie & Patrick, Vanessa M., 2019. "The Way the Wind Blows: Direction of Airflow Energizes Consumers and Fuels Creative Engagement," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 95(4), pages 143-157.
    8. Kelting, Katie & Berry, Christopher & van Horen, Femke, 2019. "The presence of copycat private labels in a product set increases consumers' choice ease when shopping with an abstract mindset," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 264-274.
    9. Valerie L. Bartelt & Alan R. Dennis & Lingyao Yuan & Jordan B. Barlow, 2013. "Individual Priming in Virtual Team Decision-Making," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 873-896, September.
    10. Sumitra Auschaitrakul & Dan King & Yanfen You, 2024. "From physical space to mental space: feelings of being physically constrained increase consumer preference for mind-expanding products," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 231-242, June.
    11. Logkizidou, Maria & Bottomley, Paul & Angell, Rob & Evanschitzky, Heiner, 2019. "Why Museological Merchandise Displays Enhance Luxury Product Evaluations: An Extended Art Infusion Effect," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 95(1), pages 67-82.
    12. Anbang Dai & Jiajie Zou & Junru Wang & Nai Ding & Hiroatsu Fukuda, 2022. "Aesthetic judgment of architecture for Chinese observers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(4), pages 1-8, April.
    13. Helmefalk, Miralem & Hultén, Bertil, 2017. "Multi-sensory congruent cues in designing retail store atmosphere: Effects on shoppers’ emotions and purchase behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-11.
    14. Wang, Lili & You, Yanfen & Yang, Chun-Ming, 2020. "Restrained by resources: The effect of scarcity cues and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) on consumer preference for feasibility," International Journal of Research in Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 557-571.
    15. Selin Atalay, A. & Onur Bodur, H. & Bressoud, Etienne, 2017. "When and How Multitasking Impacts Consumer Shopping Decisions," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 93(2), pages 187-200.
    16. Stillman, Paul E. & Fujita, Kentaro & Sheldon, Oliver & Trope, Yaacov, 2018. "From “me” to “we”: The role of construal level in promoting maximized joint outcomes," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 16-25.
    17. Huie Li & Chang You & Jin Li & Mei Li & Min Tan & Guanfei Zhang & Yiping Zhong, 2022. "Influence of Environmental Aesthetic Value and Anticipated Emotion on Pro-Environmental Behavior: An ERP Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Jia Li & Rachel McCrary, 2022. "Consumer communications and current events: a cross-cultural study of the change in consumer response to company social media posts due to the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(2), pages 173-183, June.
    19. Ceridwen Owen & James Crane, 2022. "Trauma-Informed Design of Supported Housing: A Scoping Review through the Lens of Neuroscience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-27, November.
    20. Wen, Na & Lurie, Nicholas H., 2019. "More Than Aesthetic: Visual Boundaries and Perceived Variety," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 95(3), pages 86-98.
    21. Hoffman, Donna L. & Novak, Thomas P., 2009. "Flow Online: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 23-34.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4305-:d:538737. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.