Stress Recovery during Exposure to Nature Sound and Environmental Noise

doi:10.3390/ijerph7031036

Paper

Stress Recovery during Exposure to Nature Sound and Environmental Noise

Published Mar 1, 2010 · DOI · J. Alvarsson, S. Wiens, M. Nilsson

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Abstract

Research suggests that visual impressions of natural compared with urban environments facilitate recovery after psychological stress. To test whether auditory stimulation has similar effects, 40 subjects were exposed to sounds from nature or noisy environments after a stressful mental arithmetic task. Skin conductance level (SCL) was used to index sympathetic activation, and high frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV) was used to index parasympathetic activation. Although HF HRV showed no effects, SCL recovery tended to be faster during natural sound than noisy environments. These results suggest that nature sounds facilitate recovery from sympathetic activation after a psychological stressor.

Non-RCTHighly Cited

Study Snapshot

Nature sounds facilitate faster recovery from sympathetic activation after psychological stress compared to noisy environments.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Stress Recovery during Exposure to Nature Sound and Environmental Noise

References

Citations