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Abstract
Visual characteristics (e.g., the color and shape) of ornamental plants can significantly affect their beneficial influence on humans. Prior research, however, has largely focused on the effects of the color or shape of flowers and the impact of differences in the visual appearance of foliage plants and plants with ornamental stalks has not yet been fully explored. This study examined the psychophysiological effects of urban ornamental bamboos that expressed different colors on different organs. Three hundred Chinese college students participated in the experiment. They were randomly assigned to view images of five ornamental bamboo landscapes with the following different visual characteristics: green stalks (GS) non-green stalks (NGS) multicolored stalks (MS) green leaves (GL) and multicolored leaves (ML). Before and after viewing the images, their EEG, blood pressure, pulse, profile of mood states (POMS) score, and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) score were measured. The results showed that ornamental bamboo landscapes have extremely significant beneficial psychophysiological effects as compared to urban landscapes. After viewing landscapes in the NGS and MS groups, EEG, blood pressure, and pulse rate of subjects showed more beneficial changes. Significant gender differences were observed only in systolic blood pressure and in the vigor score. In addition, an extremely significant interaction between color and organ of color expression was observed on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Organ of expression had significant main effects on all the physiological indicators and the fatigue, vigor, and irritability scores, while color only had a main effect on systolic blood pressure. Our study concluded that viewing urban ornamental bamboo landscapes with different visual characteristics has different effects on humans. With regards to ornamental bamboo, the organ expressing the color had a greater impact on psychophysiological responses than did the type of color itself. These study results can provide guidance for landscape construction of urban greening.
Highlights
The global trend of increasing urbanization is coupled to a rise in a range of serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression
From the perspective of the color of stalks and leaves, this study aimed to explore the various effects of urban ornamental bamboo landscapes with different color variation and the organs of color expression, and the findings can be applied to urban greening
Based on the interaction effect analysis of two variables, this study found interesting results regarding the psychophysiological effects of plant color
Summary
The global trend of increasing urbanization is coupled to a rise in a range of serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression. Studies have proven that the natural environment is more beneficial to the human body than cities in mitigating stress states and inducing physiological relaxation [3,4]. The interaction between human beings and nature can effectively strengthen the human nervous system [5,6], secretory system [7], and immune system [8], while improving mental health problems such as anxiety and depression [9,10]. The urban natural environment is an important part of the overall urban environment that can potentiate the restorative effects of cities.
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