Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology (한국환경생태학회지)

Korean Society of Environment and Ecology (한국환경생태학회)
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Experimental Analysis of the Healing Effect of Visual Forest Stimulation in Digital Environment

디지털 환경에서 시각적 산림자극의 치유효과에 대한 실험적 분석

  • Il-Doo Kim (Graduate Department of forest Therapy Chungbuk National Univ.) ;
  • Won-Soep Shin (Forestry, Graduate School Chungbuk National Univ.)
  • 김일두 (충북대학교 대학원 산림치유학협동과정) ;
  • 신원섭 (충북대학교 대학원 산림학과)
  • Received : 2023.08.24
  • Accepted : 2023.12.04
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the psychological or physiological healing effects of real natural forests and virtual forest experiences using virtual reality (VR) in an artificially-controlled digital environment. To find out this, 81 healthy undergraduate students from C University were experimented on visual forest stimulation effects in the digital environment from September 5 to December 9 in 2022. The experiment evaluated the psychological and physiological healing effects of visual forest stimulation in the digital forest environment (2D, 3D). The SRI (stress response inventory) experiment for analyzing psychological effect showed statistically significant differences among groups. As for the SRI experiment for measuring psychological stress, except Control group, 2D group in the digital environment showed little difference before and after the experiment. But 3D group showed less stress than before. As a result, it was proved that visual forest stimulation in a forest-based digital environment (2D, 3D) reduces psychological stress significantly. And when analyzing how visual forest stimulation changes EEG (electroencephalogram) in the digital environment, alpha waves (RA), which are activated during relaxation or stabilization, were more active than beta waves (RB), which are activated during tension or awakening. This study is expected to be used to create a psychological and physiological healing environment for those who cannot go to a natural forest due to mobility difficulties by providing them visual forest stimulation experiences in a digital environment. It is also expected that the results will be the basis for forest healing in the digital environment and virtual reality programs will help forest healing activities.

본 연구에서는 실제 자연의 숲과 인위적으로 통제가 가능한 디지털 환경에서의 가상현실(VR)을 활용한 가상 숲에서의 체험이 피험자의 심리적 또는 생리적으로 미치는 치유효과를 알아보기 위하여 수행되었다. 이를 밝혀내기 위해 C대학 건강한 학부생 81명을 실험참가자로 2022. 9. 5~12. 9에 걸쳐 디지털 환경 내에서의 시각을 통한 산림자극 효과를 실험하였다. 실험은 디지털환경(2D, 3D)에서 숲 환경을 통한 시각적 산림자극의 심리적, 생리적 회복 효과를 평가하였다. 심리적 효과분석인 SRI(스트레스 반응척도)의 실험결과는 집단 간 차이가 통계적으로 유의한 것으로 나타났다. 심리적 스트레스 측정을 위한 SRI 실험 결과는 세 집단 중 Control 집단을 제외한 디지털 환경에서의 2D 집단은 사전과 사후 간 차이가 미미한 것으로 나타났다. 3D 집단에서는 사전보다 사후가 낮게 나타났다. 이 결과 산림을 기반으로 한 디지털 환경(2D, 3D)에서 시각을 통한 산림자극이 심리적 스트레스를 유의하게 감소시켜주는 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 디지털환경 내에서 시각을 통한 산림자극이 EEG(뇌파)에 미치는 변화 분석 결과, 이완이나 안정화 때 활성화 되는 것으로 나타나는 알파파(RA)가 긴장이나 각성 때 발현되는 베타파(RB) 보다 활성화 되는 것으로 확인 되었다. 본 연구는 신체적 거동 불편 등 이동 제약으로 인하여 자연 숲 환경에서 체험을 할 수 없는 이용자들에게 디지털환경 내에서 가상현실(VR) 속 숲 환경을 구현하여 시각적 산림자극 체험 기회를 제공함으로서 심리적, 생리적 회복 환경을 만들어 주는데 사용 할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 이러한 연구 결과가 디지털 환경에서 산림치유에 대한 활용의 기반이 되길 기대하고, 가상현실(VR)을 이용한 프로그램이 산림치유 활동에 도움이 되기를 기대한다.

Keywords

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