TITLE:
Changes in Heart Rate Variability and Effects on POMS by Whether or Not Soil Observation Was Performed
AUTHORS:
Kazuyo Hanyu, Kenji Tamura, Hidetoshi Mori
KEYWORDS:
Soil Observation; Heart Rate Variability; Autonomic Nerve Function; Profile of Mood States (POMS); Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.4 No.1,
January
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Introduction:
The effects of performing soil observation on autonomic nerve function (ANS)
and the profile of mood states (POMS) particularly for upsurge of sentiment were studied table. Methods: The subjects were divided
into two groups: Group A with
soil observation, and Group B without it. Soil observation was performed by
smelling soil, touching the soil and other ways. Evaluation was made using
heart rate change variability, POMS and visual analog scale (VAS). Results:
Group A showed an increase in high frequency (HF) and the LF (low frequency)/HF
ratio and a decrease in heart rate, leading to activating the functions of the
parasympathetic nervous system. VAS values for “not comforted at all” indicated
that the scale was lower in Group A than in Group B. In POMS, a factor of “vigor”
became lower in Group B than in Group A. Discussion: It was suggested that soil
observation was effective in bringing people to a state of physiological and
mental relaxation and reducing stress because it raised the degree of being
comforted, increased HF, decreased the heart rate and activated the
parasympathetic nervous system. Conclusions: By performing soil observation,
the heart rate decreased, HF increased and an upsurge sentiment became
normalized.