Exploring the Psychophysiological Effects of Viewing Urban Nature through Virtual Reality Using Electroencephalography and Perceived Restorativeness Scale Measures

Abstract

Researchers have long explored how humans respond psychologically and physiologically to distinct landscapes and natural features. Walking in nature and viewing photographs of natural landscapes have been shown to reduce stress measured through the physiological responses of blood pressure, salivary cortisol concentration, and pulse rate. Exposure to natural landscapes has also been shown to improve feelings of relaxation and positive emotion. Little research, however, has focused on the potential impact of visualization through virtual reality (VR). This study explores how brain frequencies and psychological measures test the restorativeness of a virtual place. Utilizing VR, twenty-one participants observed a virtual, vegetated, vacant site as it exists currently and then again as a reimagined greenspace. The psychological responses were analyzed using the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), and the psychophysiological responses were analyzed using electroencephalography (EEG) with a specific focus on alpha and beta brain frequencies in the frontal and parietal lobes. Findings indicated that the perceived restorativeness of the designed site increased for two of the three determined factors. Alpha brain frequencies were not significantly different when viewing the vacant versus the designed site; however, beta brain frequencies demonstrated a marginally significant effect of sex with male beta power spectral density decreasing when viewing the designed site and female beta brain frequencies increasing. This research suggests that redesigning a vegetated urban vacant site can positively impact perceived restorativeness and unveils a potential gender effect present in beta brain frequencies.