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Cited by 87Urban Green Space and HealthTactile and Sensory InteractionsAesthetic Perception and Analysis

Psychological and physiological effect in humans of touching plant foliage-using the semantic differential method and cerebral activity as indicators

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Koga, Kazuko, Iwasaki, Yutaka·2013·Journal of Physiological Anthropology
DOI 10.1186/1880-6805-32-7PMC PMC3660240
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported on the healing powers of plants and nature, but there have not been so many instances of experimental research. In particular, there are very few psychological and physiological studies using tactile stimuli. This study examines the psychological and physiological effects of touching plant foliage by using an evaluation profile of the subjects' impressions and investigating cerebral blood flow. METHODS: The subjects were 14 young Japanese men aged from 21 to 27 years (mean ± standard deviation: 23.6 ± 2.4). With their eyes closed, the subjects touched four different tactile samples including a leaf of natural pothos (Epipremnum aureum). The physiological indices were compared before and after each stimulus. Psychological indices were obtained using a 'semantic differential' method. RESULTS: The fabric stimulus gave people 'soft' and 'rough' impressions, 'kind', 'peaceful' and 'pleasant' feelings psychologically, and a sense of physiological calm. On the other hand, the metal stimulus gave people 'cold', 'smooth' and 'hard' impressions and an image of something 'artificial'. The metal stimulus caused a stress response in human cerebral blood flow although its evaluation in terms of 'pleasant or unpleasant' was neutral. There were no remarkable differences between the stimuli of natural and artificial pothos compared with other types of stimulus psychologically. However, only the natural pothos stimulus showed a sense of physiological calm in the same appearance as the fabric stimulus. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that people experience an unconscious calming reaction to touching a plant. It is to be concluded that plants are an indispensable element of the human environment.

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  • Plants can sustain the psychological wellbeing of space explorers.

    “as well as sustaining the psychological wellbeing of space explorers [10,11,12]”

    From Mars Regolith Simulant Ameliorated by Compost as in situ Cultivation Substrate Improves Lettuce Growth and Nutritional Aspects (2020) · cites this paper as [11]

    The Conclusions report an unconscious calming response when people touched a natural pothos leaf. The study did not examine space explorers or whether plants sustain psychological wellbeing during spaceflight; its Discussion also describes the participants’ reported psychological impression as unclear. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Koga, K., & Iwasaki, Y.
Affiliations
Chiba University (JP)
Corresponding author
Koga, Kazuko
ORCID
Koga, Kazuko
Venue
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2013-04-15
Volume
32
Issue
1
Pages
7-7
ISSN
  • 1880-6791 (ISSN-L)
  • 1880-6805
DOI
10.1186/1880-6805-32-7
PMC
PMC3660240
OpenAlex
W2096886559
Cited by
87
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1
FWCI
1.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Aesthetic Perception and Analysis
Keywords
tactile stimuli, Epipremnum aureum, cerebral blood flow, semantic differential, stress response
MeSH terms
Adult, Complementary Therapies, Analysis of Variance, Cerebrovascular Circulation, Emotions, Humans, Male, Semantic Differential, Touch, Plant Leaves

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