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Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation Using Knotty and Clear Wood Images among Young Women

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  • Harumi Ikei

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
    Department of Wood Engineering, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan
    Co-first authors who contributed equally to this work.)

  • Masashi Nakamura

    (Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
    Co-first authors who contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yoshifumi Miyazaki

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

Abstract

Wood is a sustainable and natural material used in interior design for living environment. Knots are prominent features on wood surfaces, and they affect a user’s building preference and impression. Data on the effects of wood knots on human physiological responses are limited. Hence, further studies should be conducted. This study examined the effects of interior wall images comprising knotty or clear wood on physiological responses. Computer graphics were used to prepare wall images of knotty or clear lumber. A gray image was set as the control. In total, 28 adult Japanese female university students were included in this study. They observed two types of wood interior wall images for 90 s. The control was also set for 90 s. The oxyhemoglobin level in the prefrontal cortex measured by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) and the activities of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves assessed using the heart rate variability (HRV) were utilized as physiological indexes. TRS sensors, which emit and receive near-infrared light, were attached to frontal pole (Fp) 1 and Fp2, based on the international 10–20 method. R-R interval was measured using HRV sensors attached based on the three-point guidance method, and frequency data were analyzed to assess high frequency (HF), which reflects parasympathetic nervous system activity, and the ratio of high and low frequencies (LF/HF), which reflects sympathetic nervous system activity. The knotty wood sedated the right prefrontal cortex activity compared with the control and enhanced parasympathetic nerve activity compared with before stimulation. Clear wood sedated the left prefrontal cortex activity compared with the control and suppressed sympathetic nerve activity compared with before stimulation. Subjective evaluations revealed that compared with gray wall images, both knotty and clear wood images significantly promoted comfort, relaxation, and natural feeling and improved overall mood states. In addition, clear wood image had a more positive subjective effect than knotty image. Wall images comprising knotty or clear wood, when used as a visual stimulus, have a physiological relaxation effect among adult women in their 20s.

Suggested Citation

  • Harumi Ikei & Masashi Nakamura & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2020. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation Using Knotty and Clear Wood Images among Young Women," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9898-:d:451899
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Djongyang, Noël & Tchinda, René & Njomo, Donatien, 2010. "Thermal comfort: A review paper," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 2626-2640, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Harumi Ikei & Hyunju Jo & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2023. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation by a Japanese Low Wooden Table: A Crossover Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-13, July.
    2. 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.

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