• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

The scientific verification of the physiological and psychological effects that result from interaction with green plants would not only provide objective knowledge on the psychological effect of green but would also establish useful grounds for the creation of green spaces that consider human emotions. The present study measured the cerebral activity(cerebral blood flow) and the autonomic nervous system activity (blood pressure, pulse rate, amylase) of fifteen Korean male subjects as they inhaled the natural scent diffused by pine needles. Impression and mood state evaluations of the reactions to the pine scent were carried out using the SD method and POMS. Cerebral activity was observed to be significantly activated in the feeling, judgment, and motor areas of the frontal lobe, as well as the memory area in the temporal lobe. Verbal evaluations by the SD method and POMS indicated a pine scent left natural but stimulated and active impressions, provided vigor, and also reduced confusion. The autonomic nervous system activities, however, showed no significant differences. These findings verified scientifically that a pine scent vitalizes humans both physiologically and psychologically. These results could be useful as fundamental data for the design of green spaces that consider human emotional aspects.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2020

Background and objective: In the Republic of Korea, military service is mandatory. Some of new recruits have the stress from the special environment, which could cause psychological maladjustment. The military forces have operated education programs such as green camp and healing camp. The study was conducted to investigate changes in psychological and physiological stress by conducting forest healing activities along with plant scent treatment for soldiers participating in a green camp. Methods: A total of 52 soldiers were participated including maladjustment soldiers and those recommended by their military units to protect the unfit soldiers who participated in forest healing activities in the green camp. The programs that were certified by the Korea Forest Service between 2014 and 2019, and were applied for stress reduction and relaxation training were classified into stress-coping programs and forest experience programs. Post-hoc surveys and cortisol measurements were carried out. Results: Green camp soldiers experience and differences in the level of stress responses were found to be very statistically significant between the treatment and control groups. The techniques for coping with stress were not significantly different in the control group, and the treatment group showed statistically significant results. In addition, the results of analyzing changes in the concentration of cortisol and measuring physiological stress were very statistically significant in forest healing activities at 4 p.m. Conclusion: Once green camp soldiers face stressful situations, forest healing programs using forest plant scents for green camp soldiers can have positive responses and forest healing activities can reduce psychological and physiological stress responses, improving maladjustment behaviors caused by stress and positively affecting the reduction of cortisol.