Abstract
The number of people addicted to gambling has increased worldwide. They often suffer from debilitating medical conditions associated with stress or depression. This study examined the physiological and psychological reactions of gambling disorder (GD) patients while listening to high-definition forest or city sounds using headphones. In total, 12 Japanese male GD patients were exposed to high-definition forest or city sound waves for 1 min via headphones. Near-infrared spectroscopy of the prefrontal cortex was used to examine oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations. Heart rate and heart rate variability are indicators of autonomic nervous function. We performed subjective evaluation via the modified version of the semantic differential (SD) method with the profiles of the mood states (POMS). Experiencing forest sounds led to substantial differences as opposed to listening to city sounds: (1) oxy-Hb levels of the bilateral prefrontal cortices were lower (2) the modified SD method resulted in increased comfortable and relaxed feelings, (3) the negative POMS subscale scores were significantly lower, indicating that negative emotions diminished markedly when patients listened to forest sounds. This is the first study to show that sounds of forest relaxed individuals physiologically and psychologically to minimize GD.
Highlights
The integrated resorts (IR) maintenance law was passed in July 2018 to enable the opening of IR in Japan [1]
The oxy-Hb concentration of the forest sound gradually decreased from the start in the bilateral prefrontal cortex and reached a minimum at 25 s
Compared to the 1 min exposure to city sounds, the overall mean oxy-Hb concentration levels in the left (forest: −0.33 ± 0.21 μM; city: 0.19 ± 0.24 μM; t(10) = −2.11; p = 0.031; Figure 2A-2) and right (forest: −0.49 ± 0.20 μM; city: 0.15 ± 0.23 μM; t(10) = −2.35; p = 0.020; Figure 2B-2) prefrontal cortices were substantially reduced upon exposure to forest sounds
Summary
The integrated resorts (IR) maintenance law was passed in July 2018 to enable the opening of IR in Japan [1]. IR is defined as a resort with a hotel and casino. In response to this movement, the headquarters for the promotion of gambling disorder (GD) countermeasures were established in October 2018 [2]. In Japan, many people are addicted to gambling because of accessible game machines such as Pachinko and slot machines. The government has determined that it is urgent to establish an appropriate medical system for the increase in patients with GD expected after the release of the IR bill [4]. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry created a policy allowing patients with
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