RESEARCH

Effect of Stimulation by Foliage Plant Display Images on Prefrontal Cortex Activity: A Comparison with Stimulation using Actual Foliage Plants

Viewing real foliage plants significantly increased prefrontal cortex activity compared to images of the same plants, indicating stronger neurophysiological responses. Despite this difference, both stimuli elicited similar feelings of comfort and relaxation, suggesting that real plants may offer additional psychological benefits beyond subjective emotional responses.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: General Population

Setting or Context: Workplace Environments

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design

Type of Activity: Indoor Plant Care, AI/Digital Tools in Therapeutic Horticulture

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Observational Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Metrics for Physical Health

Access: Free

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Summary

This study explores how viewing real foliage plants versus images of the same plants affects brain activity and emotional responses. Researchers measured changes in oxy-hemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with emotional regulation, while participants viewed either real dracaena plants or high-resolution images of these plants. The results showed that viewing real plants significantly increased prefrontal cortex activity compared to viewing images. However, participants reported similar feelings of comfort and relaxation for both stimuli, though real plants were perceived as more natural.

The findings suggest that real foliage plants may provide unique psychological benefits not replicated by images, despite eliciting comparable subjective emotional responses. These results highlight the potential advantages of incorporating real plants into homes and workplaces to promote mental well-being and stress relief. Future research could investigate whether factors like plant type, size, or quantity further enhance these effects.

Link

Igarashi, M., Song, C., Ikei, H., & Miyazaki, Y. (2015). Effect of stimulation by foliage plant display images on prefrontal cortex activity: A comparison with stimulation using actual foliage plants. J. Neuroimaging, 25(1), 127-130.

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