Effects of Landscapes on the Brain

NCT04210856 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: R-722-000-010-490
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 95
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

There is an established consensus between researchers that the contact with natural environments has beneficial influence on mental health and well-being of people exposed to them. The knowledge in this area is based mostly on the correlational analyses, but more research is needed to explore the causal relationships between the human and his environment. More specifically, in order to identify specific restorative mechanisms in response to the specific types and components of the designed landscapes, especially in the highly urbanized context. This study will attempt to find the psychophysiological responses in human brain to landscapes videos (in the lab), and real landscapes with different visual quality, carefully pre-selected and analysed in terms of landscape composition. In the study the rigorous experimental protocol will be administered in order to acquire qualitative and quantitative data both self-reported and measured by neuroscience tools, in order to demonstrate the causal effect of landscape exposure on the brain activity patterns and mood of healthy and depressed individuals.

Conditions

Depression; Stress; Anxiety Disorders

Keywords

landscape; exposure; EEG; fNIRS; depression; stress; urban; anxiety; contemplative

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• EEG power in alpha band

  predictor of positive affect and positive mental health outcomes, measured with EEG

  5 minutes

• EEG power in beta band

  more beta in the right temporal lobes associated with stimuli-driven attention, measured with EEG

  5 minutes

• fNIRS haemodynamics

  decreased oxy-hemoglobin in the frontal part of the brain indicates more relaxation

  5 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Profile of mood states

  30 minutes

• landscape preference measured with self-assessment manikin scale.

  30 minutes

Study Arms (1)

Sequence of Landscape exposures

EXPERIMENTAL

All participants undergo the procedure of visiting all landscape exposures in a random order.

Other: Contemplative landscape exposure

Interventions

Contemplative landscape exposure OTHER

landscapes classified as contemplative (through a CLM psychometric measure) are expected to elicit different brainwave oscillations as compared to non-contemplative ones.

Sequence of Landscape exposures

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age of 21 to 75
• Right-handed only
• (They must suffer from depressive disorder)

You may not qualify if:

• Major neurological disorders e.g. epilepsy, stroke
• Any form of cancer
• Major heart diseases: e.g. ischemic heart disease
• Major lung diseases: e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
• Major liver disease e.g. liver failure
• Major kidney disease e.g. kidney failure.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Singapore: lead
• National University Hospital, Singapore: collaborator
• National Parks Board, Singapore: collaborator
• Ministry of National Development, Singapore: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech)

Singapore, 117599, Singapore

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Ho Roger, MDD

  NUHS

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: participants do not know the hypothesis of a study, other people cannot influence the brainwave reaction
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: non-randomised within subjects clinical trial.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2019
• First Posted: December 26, 2019
• Study Start: February 28, 2019
• Primary Completion: July 9, 2021
• Study Completion: July 9, 2021
• Last Updated: July 12, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SG (1)