• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.82-95
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• 2015

This study is intended to obtain a guideline for creating a therapeutic garden soundscape in a psychiatric hospital by analyzing the psychological and physiological effects of auditory components on mental patients. The subjects were 27 inpatients at a psychiatric institute located in Jeollabuk-do. They were recommended by their doctors and had been diagnosed with mild cases of schizophrenia. The survey was carried out in October 2011. With regard to the study, the subjects listened to single sounds(the sound of flowing water, birdsong, wind chimes and music) and 4 sounds composed of some of these, and then Electroencephalography(EEG) and psychological effects were measured. The moving water sound was perceived as pleasing and revitalizing and the birdsong as sonorous and delightful. When designing a healing garden in a psychiatric hospital, the vitality of sound should be considered. In comparison to other single sounds, water sounds were highly preferred and had greater effects on psychological vitality. Music sounds had a significant effect on enhancing tranquility while water sounds affected on both psychological vitality and tranquillity. When comparing single sounds with combined sounds, single sounds such as running water for vitality and music for tranquility had a greater psychological effect than combined sounds. In terms of combined sound preferences, the combination of water and bird sounds had higher preference rates. Generally, combined sounds including water tended to have higher preference rates. The physiological effects of single sounds showed that music had a greater therapeutic effect than natural sounds such as water sounds and birdsong in promoting tranquility. As for combined sounds adopted to enhance physiological tranquility, it is most appropriate to combine music and birdsong or music and water sounds. However, a single music sound is more effective than combined sounds. Overall, analyses of both psychological and physiological reactions showed music and water sounds to be most calming while water sounds promoted the greatest vitality.