Psychophysiological Effects of Domestic Woods－from the Olfactory Perspective

• Main Authors: Wei-Chieh Weng, 翁煒杰
• Other Authors: 余家斌
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/6a3qc6

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 森林環境暨資源學研究所 === 107 === This study aims to understand the psycophysiological benefits of the essential oils of two domestic woods: Taiwania cryptomerioides and Calocedrus formosana. And to further discuss if the implantation of the idea ”Forest scents are proven to have therapeutic effect on human health” can significantly enhance the health benefit from smelling the essential oils. 81 subjusts were recruited and divieded into two groups by the essential oil scent they received. Then further assigned each groups into two sub-groups by whether or not the expectation of the therapeutic effect were implanted. It’s a two-way ANOVA mixed design. The concentration of the essential oil were 10μl essential oil difussing into 12 L normal air for at least 1 hour. The scent would be pumped up and released 15 cm in front of the faces of subjects in the constant flow of 4L air per minute for 2 minutes. The control group followed the same procedure yet with ordinary air. The expectation of therapeutic effect was implanted by reading a 2-page text, whereas the control group did not received any reading material. The physiological measurment includes heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability and the salivary α amylase; Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) were performed as cognitive ability indicator; psychological measurment includes Profile of Mood States(POMS) and Semantic Differential Scale(SD). The results show, compare to ordinary air, both essential oils can significantly reduce the heart rate. In terms of subjective mood evaluation, exposure to the scent of Taiwania cryptomerioides essential oil significantly reduces the score of confussion, depression, vigor and fatigue; while exposure to the scent of Calocedrus formosana essential oil reduces confussion, depression, fatigue and tention. The expectation of the health benefits has little effect on all of the physiological measurements, however on the psychological aspect, expectation does have some interesting and significant effects on the scent of Taiwania cryptomerioides essential oil.