Changes in Physiological and Psychological Conditions of Humans to Color Stimuli of Plants

This study investigates the color stimuli of two varieties of foliage plants by extracting electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram and physiology activity data from 30 participants in their 50s or older. Changes in the physiological activity of subjects against six color stimuli were examined. The stimulus to real green plants 'Silver Queen' was set as the control group, and was compared with other groups including the stimulus to real 'Angel' plants and four stimuli to artificial colors (two color images and color schemes of the same green and red plants). Compared to the five groups, the relative theta power spectrum (RT) and the ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB) increased in the subjects exposed to real green plants. This result demonstrates that the green plant ('Silver Queen') increases the stability, relaxation, and internal concentration of subjects in a proper state of awakening. The result of this experiment showed a statistically significant difference in the level of RT when subjects were exposed to the groups of real green and red plants. This finding indicates that the green plant increases internal concentration more than the red plant. RT and the relative low beta power spectrum (RLB) in the groups of natural colors were higher than the groups of artificial colors when subjects focused their mind on the two types of real plants. However, the level of relative mid beta power spectrum (RMB), ratio of SMR to theta (RST), ratio of mid beta to theta (RMT), relative high beta power spectrum (RHB), and spectral edge frequency 95% were higher when subjects were exposed to the photos and colors scheme of plants than when they were exposed to real plants. The subjects experienced more "comfortable" emotions when they were looking at plants with green colors. Overall, it is recommended to use the natural colors of real plants in places where which stability and relaxation are required. On the contrary, the artificial colors of plants such as their photos and color schemes are useful in places where a high level of concentration is required in a short period of time.