An Experimental Study of Noise Stress Recovery by Inspecting Green Spaces Using Electroencephalogram, Heart Rate and Subjective Evaluation

Abstract

Electroencephalogram, heart rate, and subjective evaluation of subjects inspecting two different setting such as a plant-dominant setting of hedge and lawn, and a concrete-dominant setting of block fence and pavement were compared after the exposure to the noise of 80dB (A) for 90 seconds watching a whiteboard. In the concrete-dominant setting α-wave ratio and heart rate variant kept low value, and the subjective evaluation was negative. On the other hand, in the plant-dominant setting, α-wave ratio and heart rate variant transited at a high value, and the subjective evaluation was positive. From these results, noise stress recovery in the plant-dominant setting proved effective.