Therapeutic Garden With Contemplative Features Induces Desirable Changes in Mood and Brain Activity in Depressed Adults

• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.757056
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07T05:19:51Z
• Authors: Agnieszka Olszews...; Anna Fogel; Nicolas Escoffier; Angelia Sia; Kenta Nakazawa; Akihiro Kumagai; Ippeita Dan; Roger Ho
• Keywords: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy; Depression; Affect

The therapeutic values of contact with nature have been increasingly recognized. A growing body evidence suggests that a unique subcategory "contemplative landscapes" is particularly therapeutic. Previous studies predominantly focused on observational designs in non-clinical populations. It not known if these effects can be extrapolated to populations suffering from depression, and experimental need utilized establish causality. We examined the in-situ passive exposure three urban spaces brain activity, namely Therapeutic Garden high Contemplative Landscape scores (TG), Residential Green (RG) Busy Downtown (BD), self-reported momentary mood adults aged 21-74 (n = 92), including 24 clinically depressed 68 healthy participants. Portable, multimodal electroencephalography (EEG) functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems were used record Profile Mood States (POMS) questionnaire was before after exposure. tested interactions between site, time group for mood, site neuroelectric oscillations hemodynamics. Self-reported pre- post-mood significant only at TG (p 0.032) both groups. lowest Total Disturbance (TMD) reported highest BD 0.026). Results fNIRS indicated marginally lower oxy-Hb frontal region as compared 0.054) across effect also observed 0.062), Clinical showing much than Healthy. opposite pattern BD. EEG results showed differences Healthy groups Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA) sites 0.04), more alpha right sample left lateralization TG. Temporal Beta (TBA) analyses suggested patients displayed bottom-up attention participants all 0.039). suggest benefitted TG, possibly different pathways improvement. Visiting contemplative features may provide valuable support treatment depression clinical self-care intervention