IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i10p5500-d558895.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5500/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5500/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Lara S. Franco & Danielle F. Shanahan & Richard A. Fuller, 2017. "A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-29, August.
    3. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation with Forest Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    4. Sandifer, Paul A. & Sutton-Grier, Ariana E. & Ward, Bethney P., 2015. "Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity conservation," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 12(C), pages 1-15.
    5. Sin-Ae Park & Chorong Song & Yun-Ah Oh & Yoshifumi Miyazaki & Ki-Cheol Son, 2017. "Comparison of Physiological and Psychological Relaxation Using Measurements of Heart Rate Variability, Prefrontal Cortex Activity, and Subjective Indexes after Completing Tasks with and without Foliag," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, September.
    6. Hyunju Jo & Chorong Song & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, November.
    7. 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.
    8. Dawou Joung & Geonwoo Kim & Yoonho Choi & HyoJin Lim & Soonjoo Park & Jong-Min Woo & Bum-Jin Park, 2015. "The Prefrontal Cortex Activity and Psychological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes in Autumn Season," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-9, June.
    9. Juyoung Lee, 2017. "Experimental Study on the Health Benefits of Garden Landscape," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, July.
    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. Mário Santos & Helena Moreira & João Alexandre Cabral & Ronaldo Gabriel & Andreia Teixeira & Rita Bastos & Alfredo Aires, 2022. "Contribution of Home Gardens to Sustainable Development: Perspectives from A Supported Opinion Essay," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-26, October.
    2. 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.
    3. Yan Ding & Minyan Zhao & Zehong Li & Bing Xia & Zhanna Atutova & Dmitry Kobylkin, 2022. "Impact of Education for Sustainable Development on Cognition, Emotion, and Behavior in Protected Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
    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.

    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. Hyunju Jo & Chorong Song & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, November.
    2. Manoj Sharma & Erin Largo-Wight & Amar Kanekar & Hana Kusumoto & Stephanie Hooper & Vinayak K. Nahar, 2020. "Using the Multi-Theory Model (MTM) of Health Behavior Change to Explain Intentional Outdoor Nature Contact Behavior among College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Hiromi Suenaga & Kanako Murakami & Nozomi Murata & Syoriki Nishikawa & Masae Tsutsumi & Hiroshi Nogaki, 2020. "The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Mário Santos & Helena Moreira & João Alexandre Cabral & Ronaldo Gabriel & Andreia Teixeira & Rita Bastos & Alfredo Aires, 2022. "Contribution of Home Gardens to Sustainable Development: Perspectives from A Supported Opinion Essay," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-26, October.
    7. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation with Forest Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    8. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo & Ayako Mukoyama & Sho Naganawa & Ippeita Dan & Syeda Fabeha Husain & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger Ho, 2021. "Hemodynamic Response to Three Types of Urban Spaces before and after Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-12, June.
    9. Sin-Ae Park & Chorong Song & Yun-Ah Oh & Yoshifumi Miyazaki & Ki-Cheol Son, 2017. "Comparison of Physiological and Psychological Relaxation Using Measurements of Heart Rate Variability, Prefrontal Cortex Activity, and Subjective Indexes after Completing Tasks with and without Foliag," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-12, September.
    10. Bingyang Lyu & Chengcheng Zeng & Shouhong Xie & Di Li & Wei Lin & Nian Li & Mingyan Jiang & Shiliang Liu & Qibing Chen, 2019. "Benefits of A Three-Day Bamboo Forest Therapy Session on the Psychophysiology and Immune System Responses of Male College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    11. Margaret M. Hansen & Reo Jones & Kirsten Tocchini, 2017. "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-48, July.
    12. Yuqian Wang & Mingyan Jiang & Yinshu Huang & Zhiyi Sheng & Xiao Huang & Wei Lin & Qibing Chen & Xi Li & Zhenghua Luo & Bingyang Lv, 2020. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of Watching Videos of Different Durations Showing Urban Bamboo Forests with Varied Structures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Vidya Anderson & William A. Gough & Branka Agic, 2021. "Nature-Based Equity: An Assessment of the Public Health Impacts of Green Infrastructure in Ontario Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Michele Antonelli & Rita Baraldi & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Francesco Centritto & Davide Donelli & Franco Finelli & Fabio Firenzuoli & Giovanni Margheritin, 2021. "Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-21, September.
    15. Hyunju Jo & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2022. "Physiological and Psychological Responses of Viewing a Waterfall Image: A Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-9, December.
    16. 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.
    17. Federica Zabini & Lorenzo Albanese & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Gioele Gavazzi & Fiorenza Giganti & Fabio Giovanelli & Giorgio Gronchi & Andrea Guazzini & Marco Laurino & Qing Li & Tessa Marzi & Fra, 2020. "Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, October.
    18. Albert Bach Pagès & Josep Peñuelas & Jana Clarà & Joan Llusià & Ferran Campillo i López & Roser Maneja, 2020. "How Should Forests Be Characterized in Regard to Human Health? Evidence from Existing Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    19. Michele Antonelli & Davide Donelli & Grazia Barbieri & Marco Valussi & Valentina Maggini & Fabio Firenzuoli, 2020. "Forest Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Effects on Human Health: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-36, September.
    20. Hyunju Jo & Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Seiya Enomoto & Hiromitsu Kobayashi & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest and Urban Sounds Using High-Resolution Sound Sources," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-13, July.

    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:10:p:5500-:d:558895. 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.