Brain activity and Emotional Responses of the Japanese People Toward Trees Pruned using Sukashi Technique

Several studies on people–plant interactions have shown that viewing plants had positive influences on human being. The objective of this study was to investigate how plant shape of Pine (Pinus thunbergii) trees pruned using the Sukashi technique, which is an important component of natural style Japanese garden and trees without pruning influenced the brain activity and emotions response. The physiological responses of 32 university students (20 males and 12 females) were measured by multi channel infrared spectroscopy (NIRS, OMM-2001, Shimadzu, Co., Ltd. Japan). Furthermore, fifteen pairs of adjectives on the semantic differential scale were used to record subjects’ psychological reactions. Based on the results, visual impact of plantscape evoked different psycho-physiological responses. The results revealed that the Sukashi pruned trees had a relaxing effect as evidenced by decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) at the feeling area compared to the unpruned trees that diminished skin and body sensations. The results also suggested that the Sukashi pruned trees provided positive impressions for both gender. In conclusion, findings of this study indicated that these visual cognitive characteristics of Japanese individuals with respect to Sukashi pruning technique suggested an association among aesthetic consciousness, thought and the natural style Japanese garden.