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Physiological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes: Results of field tests in Atsugi city, Japan  

Park, Bum-Jin (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University)
MIYAZAKI, Yoshifumi (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science / v.97, no.6, 2008 , pp. 634-640 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest of forest bathing). The subjects were twelve male university students ($21.6{\pm}2.1$ years old). On the first day, six subjects were sent to a forest area, and the others to a city area. On the second day, the subjects were sent to the opposite areas for a cross check. The subjects were seated on chairs and viewing the landscapes of their given areas for 15 minutes. HRV (Heart Rate Variability) and diastolic blood pressure were used as physiological indices. Diastolic blood pressure and LF/(LF+HF) components of HRV in the forest area were significantly lower than in the city area. And HF power components of HRV in the forest settings were significantly enhanced than in city settings. In conclusion, the results of the physiological measurements show that Shinrin-yoku was able to effectively relax people in both mind and body.
Keywords
therapeutic effects of forests; HRV; diastolic blood pressure; forest environments; relaxation; well-being;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
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