ISHS Acta Horticulturae 639: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Expanding Roles for Horticulture in Improving Human Well-Being and Life Quality
EFFECTS OF VISUAL RECOGNITION OF GREEN PLANTS ON THE CHANGES OF EEG IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA |
| Authors: | K.C. Son, J.E. Song, S.J. Um, J.S. Lee, H.R. Kwack |
| Keywords: | horticultural therapy, indoor plants, delta waves, blood pressure, human/plant interactions |
| Abstract:
In order to validate the therapeutic aspects of green plants, we have examined the changes of electroencephalography (EEG) of schizophrenic patients by recording EEG during 4 minute periods when they stared meaninglessly at either the plants (Ficus benjamina) placed in front of the wall or at the ivory-white wall only. EEG measurements were taken from 24 male and female patients with schizophrenia in the social welfare center, ‘Khottongnae’. The results showed no significant differences in the delta, theta, alpha and beta activities, regardless of the existence of plants when their eyes were closed immediately after measurement had been determined. On the other hand, there were significant differences in delta activity in the locations of FP1, F3, FZ, F4, FTC2 and TCP1 when their eyes were opened during measurement (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the activities of theta, alpha, and beta between treatments. Additionally, in the measurements of hyperventilation brain waves, the delta activity in the location of FP1, F7, F3, FZ, F4 and T3 also decreased significantly and alpha activity increased slightly in the occipital region without statistical significance when they saw plants. Their systolic blood pressure and heart rate when they looked at plants instead of the wall also showed a significant decrease from 129.3 to 117.7 (p<0.01) and from 71.7 to 69.8 (p<0.05), respectively. Considering that it was well known that schizophrenic patients had more delta activity in the frontal region and less alpha activity especially in the parieto-occipital region, this data indicates that various activities with green plants in horticultural therapy could be one of the effective alternative medicines for schizophrenic patients and deserves more research. | |
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