Effect of Wood Scent Inhalation on Brain Activity: Focusing on A Multi-Channel Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

• 발행기관: 인간식물환경학회
• 저자명: Choyun Kim Chorong Song
• 간행물 정보: 『인간식물환경학회지(JPPE)』제27권 제4호, 319~327쪽, 전체 9쪽
• 주제분류: 자연과학 > 자연과학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2024.08.31

국문 초록

Background and objective: While numerous studies have demonstrated the positive effects of the scent of forests onhumans, there has been a lack of research that investigates its effects on brain activity. This study was conducted toinvestigate the impact of inhaling fir essential oil on brain activity. Methods: Twenty-six university students in their twenties (mean age: 21.5 ± 1.4 years) participated in this study. Participants sat in a chair with their eyes closed and relaxed for one minute. The scent of Abies holophylla (needle fir;hereinafter referred to as “fir”) essential oil was dispersed into the air through a digital diffuser for approximately one minute,and the participants then inhaled for two minutes. A control experiment was conducted using the same method withoutany essential oil (room air). Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used as an indicator to measure brainactivity, and the oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) concentrations in the fifteen channels located in the prefrontal cortex weremeasured. The change in the HbO concentration was analyzed: mean concentration during one minute of scent inhalation -mean concentration during two minutes of scents inhalation. Results: By analyzing each of the 15 channels, the decrease in HbO concentration was found to be significantly higher forfir essential oil inhalation compared to room air inhalation. Furthermore, an analysis of the mean HbO concentration acrossall channels (CH 1-15), right hemisphere channels (CH 1-7), and left hemisphere channels (CH 9-15) showed asignificantly higher decrease with fir essential oil inhalation than with room air inhalation. This effect was observed in allchannels and left hemisphere channels. Conclusion: It was found that inhaling fir essential oil aids in relaxation brain activity.

목차

Introduction

Research Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

References

키워드

Abies holophylla (needle fir fir) essential oil forest therapy oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) prefrontal cortex stress relief