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Kurz SD, Mahlke H, Graw K, Prasse P, Falk V, Knosalla C, Matzarakis A. Patterns in acute aortic dissection and a connection to meteorological conditions in Germany. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296794. [PMID: 38265976 PMCID: PMC10807778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a dramatic emergency exhibiting a mortality of 50% within the first 48 hours if not operated. This study found an absolute value of cosine-like seasonal variation pattern for Germany with significantly fewer ATAAD events (Wilcoxon test) for the warm months of June, July, and August from 2005 to 2015. Many studies suspect a connection between ATAAD events and weather conditions. Using ERA5 reanalysis data and an objective weather type classification in a contingency table approach showed that for Germany, significantly more ATAAD events occurred during lower temperatures (by about 4.8 K), lower water vapor pressure (by about 2.6 hPa), and prevailing wind patterns from the northeast. In addition, we used data from a classification scheme for human-biometeorological weather conditions which was not used before in ATAAD studies. For the German region of Berlin and Brandenburg, for 2006 to 2019, the proportion of days with ATAAD events during weather conditions favoring hypertension (cold air advection, in the center of a cyclone, conditions with cold stress or thermal comfort) was significantly increased by 13% (Chi-squared test for difference of proportions). In contrast, the proportion was decreased by 19% for conditions associated with a higher risk for patients with hypotension and therefore a lower risk for patients with hypertension (warm air advection ahead of warm fronts, conditions with no thermal stress or heat stress, in the center of a cyclone with thermal stress). As many studies have shown that hypertension is a risk factor for ATAAD, our findings support the hypothesized relation between ATAAD and hypertension-favoring weather conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Dominik Kurz
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Holger Mahlke
- Wetter3.de - R. Behrendt und H. Mahlke GbR, Wehrheim im Taunus, Germany
- Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Kathrin Graw
- Research Centre Human Biometeorology, German Meteorological Service, Freiburg, Germany
- Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Paul Prasse
- Department of Computer Science, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Translational Cardiovascular Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Knosalla
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Matzarakis
- Research Centre Human Biometeorology, German Meteorological Service, Freiburg, Germany
- Chair of Environmental Meteorology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
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Korpisaari M, Puhakka S, Farrahi V, Niemelä M, Tulppo MP, Ikäheimo T, Korpelainen R, Lankila T. Physical activity, residential greenness, and cardiac autonomic function. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2024; 34:e14505. [PMID: 37767772 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This population-based study examines the associations between physical activity (PA), residential environmental greenness, and cardiac health measured by resting short-term heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS Residential greenness of a birth cohort sample (n = 5433) at 46 years was measured with normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) by fixing a 1 km buffer around each participant's home. Daily light PA (LPA), moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and the combination of both (MVPA) were measured using a wrist-worn accelerometer for 14 days. Resting HRV was measured with a heart rate monitor, and generalized additive modeling (GAM) was used to examine the association between PA, NDVI, and resting HRV. RESULTS In nongreen areas, men had less PA at all intensity levels compared to men in green areas. Women had more LPA and total PA and less MPA, MVPA, and VPA in green residential areas compared to nongreen areas. In green residential areas, men had more MPA, MVPA, and VPA than women, whereas women had more LPA than men. GAM showed positive linear associations between LPA, MVPA and HRV in all models. CONCLUSIONS Higher LPA and MVPA were significantly associated with increased HRV, irrespective of residential greenness. Greenness was positively associated with PA at all intensity levels in men, whereas in women, a positive association was found for LPA and total PA. A positive relationship of PA with resting HRV and greenness with PA was found. Residential greenness for promoting PA and heart health in adults should be considered in city planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija Korpisaari
- Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr., Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Geography Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Soile Puhakka
- Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr., Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Geography Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Vahid Farrahi
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Finland
- Institute for Sport and Sport Sciences, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Maisa Niemelä
- Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Finland
- Centre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu, Finland
| | - Mikko P Tulppo
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Ikäheimo
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Raija Korpelainen
- Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr., Oulu, Finland
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tiina Lankila
- Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr., Oulu, Finland
- Geography Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
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Reale G, Fusco A, Calciano R, Vallario N, Vagnarelli G, Caliandro P, Castelli L, Moci M, Tieri G, Iasevoli L, Padua L. The Immediate Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Autonomic Nervous System Function in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness after Severe Acquired Brain Injury: A Pilot Study. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7639. [PMID: 38137708 PMCID: PMC10744216 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12247639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Disorders of Consciousness (DoCs) after severe acquired brain injury involve substantial impairment of cognition and physical functioning, requiring comprehensive rehabilitation and support. Technological interventions, such as immersive Virtual Reality (VR), have shown promising results in promoting neural activity and enhancing cognitive and motor recovery. VR can induce physical sensations that may activate the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and induce ANS-regulated responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects of immersive VR on the ANS in patients with DoCs through the analysis of the electrodermal activity (EDA). EDA was measured with a wearable device during a single immersive VR session consisting of static and dynamic videos depicting naturalistic environments. A pilot case-control study was conducted with 12 healthy participants and 12 individuals with DoCs. Results showed higher EDA values in patients than in healthy participants (p = 0.035), suggesting stronger autonomic activation during immersive VR exposure, while healthy subjects, in turn, showed a decrease in EDA values. Our results revealed a significant interaction between conditions and groups (p = 0.003), with patients showing significantly increased EDA values from the baseline compared to dynamic video observation (p = 0.014) and final rest (p = 0.007). These results suggest that immersive VR can elicit sympathetic arousal in patients with DoCs. This study highlights the potential of immersive VR as a tool to strengthen autonomic responses in patients with impaired consciousness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Reale
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Augusto Fusco
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Rossella Calciano
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Noemi Vallario
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Vagnarelli
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Caliandro
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Letizia Castelli
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Marco Moci
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
| | - Gaetano Tieri
- Virtual Reality and Digital Neuroscience Lab, Department of Law and Digital Society, University of Rome Unitelma Sapienza, Piazza Sassari, 4, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Iasevoli
- Multiple Sclerosis Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Padua
- UOC Neuroriabilitazione ad Alta Intensità, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy (A.F.); (M.M.)
- Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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LoTemplio S, Bettmann JE, Scott E, Blumenthal E. Do Mental Health Changes in Nature Co-occur with Changes in Heartrate Variability and Executive Functioning? A Systematic Review. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:278-290. [PMID: 37516682 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00407-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Given the global burden of mental health issues, new solutions are needed to promote mental health. Nature exposure represents a promising option to promote mental health, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent frameworks have argued that changes in mental health in nature are caused by activity changes in the vagus nerve, which connects the heart and the brain, and that these changes also improve executive functioning (EF) abilities. This suggests that changes in mental health symptomology in nature should be accompanied by changes in vagus nerve activity, as well as changes in executive functioning. Yet, little work has systematically examined co-variation of these outcomes in empirical studies. The present manuscript systematically examines whether changes in mental health in nature are accompanied by changes in vagus nerve activity (approximated by heartrate variability) and changes in executive functioning. RECENT FINDINGS There is compelling evidence that spending time in nature can increase heartrate variability, improve mental health, and improve executive functioning. However, despite strong theoretical claims that these three outcomes should be linked after spending time in nature settings, few studies directly examine such co-occurrence. The study systematically examines whether studies that considered both mental health and executive functioning (n = 6) showed co-occurring effects in response to nature exposure. Similarly, the study also considers if studies examining mental health and heartrate variability (n = 6) showed similarly directional effects following nature exposure. This systematic review concludes with discussion about the limited number of studies (n =1) that include all three measures. We find mixed results of co-occurrence with these variables, suggesting that the relationship between these three constructs in nature may be more nuanced than current theory suggests. Perhaps more importantly, our results demonstrate that there is very little existing work linking changes in mental health to changes in EF and vagal tone. We conclude with justification for why it may be beneficial for researchers to include all three metrics as well as guidance on how to do so.
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Narang M, Singh M. Exploring different computational methods for the High-Frequency band of HRV to capture information related to RSA. Biomed Signal Process Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2023.104802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
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Mansourian M, Marateb H, Nouri R, Mansourian M. Effects of man-made electromagnetic fields on heart rate variability parameters of general public: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2023:reveh-2022-0191. [PMID: 37195230 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2022-0191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The effects of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the cardiovascular system have been investigated in many studies. In this regard, the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity due to EMFs exposure, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV), was targeted in some studies. The studies investigating the relationship between EMFs and HRV have yielded conflicting results. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the data's consistency and identify the association between EMFs and HRV measures. CONTENT Published literature from four electronic databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane, were retrieved and screened. Initially, 1601 articles were retrieved. After the screening, 15 original studies were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. The studies evaluated the association between EMFs and SDNN (standard deviation of NN intervals), SDANN (Standard deviation of the average NN intervals for each 5 min segment of a 24 h HRV recording), and PNN50 (percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms). SUMMARY There was a decrease in SDNN (ES=-0.227 [-0.389, -0.065], p=0.006), SDANN (ES=-0.526 [-1.001, -0.05], p=0.03) and PNN50 (ES=-0.287 [-0.549, -0.024]). However, there was no significant difference in LF (ES=0.061 (-0.267, 0.39), p=0.714) and HF (ES=-0.134 (0.581, 0.312), p=0.556). In addition, a significant difference was not observed in LF/HF (ES=0.079 (-0.191, 0.348), p=0.566). OUTLOOK Our meta-analysis suggests that exposure to the environmental artificial EMFs could significantly correlate with SDNN, SDANN, and PNN50 indices. Therefore, lifestyle modification is essential in using the devices that emit EMs, such as cell phones, to decrease some signs and symptoms due to EMFs' effect on HRV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Mansourian
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Marateb
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Rasool Nouri
- Department of Medical Library and Information Sciences, School of Health Management and Medical Information, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Marjan Mansourian
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Byeon H, Moon Y, Lee S, Son GI, Lee E. Effect of the Marine Exercise Retreat Program on Thyroid-Related Hormones in Middle-Aged Euthyroid Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1542. [PMID: 36674297 PMCID: PMC9863542 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a marine exercise retreat program on thyroid-related hormone levels. A total of 62 middle-aged euthyroid women participated in a 6-day marine exercise retreat program. Using thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) hormone levels, the participants were divided into high and low-hormone-level groups. Despite decreased TSH and fT4 levels after the program, the factors influencing changes in each group were different. TSH levels were influenced by changes in the normalized low frequency (nLF) of heart rate variability and carbon monoxide (CO) from all the participants, and changes in body fat percentage, nLF, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure level in the high TSH group. fT4 levels were influenced by changes in body mass index (BMI), NO2 exposure, and particulate matter diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10) exposure in all participants. Changes in BMI and CO exposure influenced the low fT4 group. Lastly, changes in the exercise stress test affected the high fT4 group. Thus, the marine exercise retreat program affected euthyroid thyroid-related hormone levels, and influencing factors differ depending on the initial value of the hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangjin Byeon
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yesol Moon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Seoeun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang-Ic Son
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunil Lee
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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Su T, Guo X, Liu M, Xiao R, Xiao Z. Better forbearance, lower depression: Evidence based on heart rate variability. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1019402. [PMID: 36704679 PMCID: PMC9872647 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1019402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The relationship between forbearance, a psychological resource, and depression has to date remained inconclusive. The present study investigated heart rate variability (HRV) reactivity to acute stressor tasks in participants with different levels of forbearance to discover how forbearance influences depressive emotions when facing adversity. Method The study examined the relationship between forbearance and depression, comparing HRV reactivity to stressor tasks in participants with different levels of forbearance. The levels of reported forbearance were assessed by the Forbearance Scale (FS). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assessed depression severity. HRV reactivity was evaluated at five stages: baseline, the active stressor task, the period of recovery after the active stressor task, the passive stressor task, the period of recovery after the passive stressor task. Results FS scores had a significant negative correlation with PHQ-9 and a significant positive correlation with HRV; significant differences existed between the basal HRV in the higher and lower FS groups. In the passive stressor task and the period of recovery after the active stressor task, significantly different HRV responses were identified between the two groups. Discussion Forbearance was correlated with depression and HRV. The present research found differences in HRV among subjects with different levels of forbearance in the baseline as well as stressor and recovery periods, suggesting that self-regulation dysfunction may exist among persons with lower levels of forbearance. Because of the higher levels of forbearance, the negative emotions of individuals caused by adversity are mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiehong Su
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinwen Guo
- General Practice Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Manhua Liu
- General Practice Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Rong Xiao
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Rong Xiao, ✉
| | - Zhongju Xiao
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Psychiatric Disorders of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,General Practice Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China,*Correspondence: Zhongju Xiao, ✉
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Li D, Lee C, Park AH, Lee H, Ding Y. Contextual and environmental factors that influence health: A within-subjects field experiment protocol. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1019885. [PMID: 36875421 PMCID: PMC9978705 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1019885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the growing research on environment-physical activity (PA) relationships, field experimental studies are limited. Such studies offer opportunities to focus on real-world environmental exposure and related PA and health outcomes, allowing researchers to better isolate the causal effect of exposures/interventions. Focusing on the street/pedestrian environment as a routine setting for people's daily activities, this research aims to develop and test a field experiment protocol that integrates instantaneous assessments of the environment, PA, and health outcomes. The protocol involves the use of state-of-the-art environmental monitoring and biosensing techniques and focuses on physically active road users (pedestrians and bicyclists) who are more directly exposed to their surrounding environment than others such as drivers. Methods/Design An interdisciplinary research team first identified the target measurement domains for the health outcomes (e.g., stress, thermal comfort, PA) and the street-level environmental exposures (e.g., land use, greenery, infrastructure conditions, air quality, weather) guided by the previous literature which was primarily observational. Portable or wearable measurement instruments (e.g., GPS, accelerometer, biosensor, mini camera, smartphone app, weather station, air quality sensor) were identified, pilot tested, and selected for the identified measures. We ensured that these measures are readily linkable using the time stamp and include eye-level exposures as they impact the users' experiences more directly yet missing in most prior studies relying on secondary, aerial-level measures. A 50-min experimental route was then determined to include typical everyday environments in park and mixed-use settings and to engage participants in three common modes of transportation (walking, bicycling, and driving). Finally, a detailed staff protocol was developed, pilot-tested, and used in a 36-participant within-subject field experiment in College Station, TX. The experiment was successfully executed, showing its potential to support future field experiments that can provide more accurate real-time, real-environment, and multi-dimensional information. Discussion Our study demonstrates the feasibility of capturing the multifold health benefits/harms related to walking and bicycling in varying urban environments by combining field experiments with environmental, behavioral, and physiological sensing. Our study protocol and reflections can be helpful for a broad spectrum of research addressing the complex and multi-level pathways between the environment, behavior, and health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongying Li
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Chanam Lee
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Amaryllis H Park
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Hanwool Lee
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Yizhen Ding
- Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Scott EE, Crabtree KW, McDonnell AS, LoTemplio SB, McNay GD, Strayer DL. Measuring affect and complex working memory in natural and urban environments. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1039334. [PMID: 36949906 PMCID: PMC10026564 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1039334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Research suggests that spending time in natural environments is associated with cognitive and affective benefits, while increased use of technology and time spent in urban environments are associated with depletion of cognitive resources and an increasing prevalence of mental illness. Attention Restoration Theory suggests that exposure to natural environments can restore depleted attentional resources and thereby improve cognitive functioning and mood. Specifically, recent meta-analyses have revealed that the most improved cognitive abilities after nature exposure include selective attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Methods While existing studies examined these cognitive abilities, few have examined the Operation Span (OSPAN), a complex measure of working memory capacity. Therefore, the current study (N = 100) compared performance on the OSPAN and self-reported mood using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and after a 30-min walk in a natural or urban environment. Results Results from the study showed that both groups exhibited an increase in positive affect and a decrease in negative affect, suggesting that going outside for a walk can boost mood regardless of environment type. Inconsistent with past work, there were no significant changes in OSPAN scores before and after the walk for either environment type. Discussion Future studies should analyze how the length of time spent in the environment, certain characteristics of the environment, and individual differences in connectedness to nature may impact attention restoration to gain insight on nature's ability to improve our affect and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Scott
- Department of Psychological Science, Vermont State University, Johnson, VT, United States
- *Correspondence: Emily E. Scott,
| | - Kaedyn W. Crabtree
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Amy S. McDonnell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Sara B. LoTemplio
- Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Glen D. McNay
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - David L. Strayer
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Diamond LM, Alley J. Rethinking minority stress: A social safety perspective on the health effects of stigma in sexually-diverse and gender-diverse populations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 138:104720. [PMID: 35662651 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
For over two decades, the minority stress model has guided research on the health of sexually-diverse individuals (those who are not exclusively heterosexual) and gender-diverse individuals (those whose gender identity/expression differs from their birth-assigned sex/gender). According to this model, the cumulative stress caused by stigma and social marginalization fosters stress-related health problems. Yet studies linking minority stress to physical health outcomes have yielded mixed results, suggesting that something is missing from our understanding of stigma and health. Social safety may be the missing piece. Social safety refers to reliable social connection, inclusion, and protection, which are core human needs that are imperiled by stigma. The absence of social safety is just as health-consequential for stigmatized individuals as the presence of minority stress, because the chronic threat-vigilance fostered by insufficient safety has negative long-term effects on cognitive, emotional, and immunological functioning, even when exposure to minority stress is low. We argue that insufficient social safety is a primary cause of stigma-related health disparities and a key target for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Diamond
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
| | - Jenna Alley
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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12
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Benz ABE, Gaertner RJ, Meier M, Unternaehrer E, Scharndke S, Jupe C, Wenzel M, Bentele UU, Dimitroff SJ, Denk BF, Pruessner JC. Nature-Based Relaxation Videos and Their Effect on Heart Rate Variability. Front Psychol 2022; 13:866682. [PMID: 35756241 PMCID: PMC9226437 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.866682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that natural environments – whether in outdoor or indoor settings – foster psychological health and physiological relaxation, indicated by increased wellbeing, reduced stress levels, and increased parasympathetic activity. Greater insight into differential psychological aspects modulating psychophysiological responses to nature-based relaxation videos could help understand modes of action and develop personalized relaxation interventions. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of autonomic regulation, specifically parasympathetic activity, in response to a 10-min video intervention in two consecutive studies as well as heart rate (HR). We hypothesized that a nature-based relaxation video elicits HRV increase and HR decrease, with response magnitude being affected by aspects of early life adversity (conceptualized as low parental care and high overprotection/constraint) and trait mindfulness. In Study 1, N = 60 participants (52% female, agemean = 23.92 ± 3.13 years, agerange = 18–34 years) watched a relaxation video intervention depicting different natural scenery. We analyzed changes in HR and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as a standard HRV measure, both based on 3-min segments from the experimental session, in multiple growth curve models. We found a decrease in HR and increase of RSA during the video intervention. Higher paternal care and lower trait mindfulness observing skills (assessed via questionnaires) were associated with higher RSA values before but not during video exposure. In Study 2, N = 90 participants (50% female, agemean = 22.63 ± 4.57 years, agerange = 18–49 years) were assigned to three video conditions: natural scenery from Study 1, meditation video, or short clip from “The Lord of the Rings.” Again, HR decreased, and RSA increased during video segments, yet without expected group differences across different video types. We found higher parental care and lower parental overprotection to predict higher RSA at different times during the experiment. Interestingly, lower paternal overprotection predicted overall higher RSA. These results suggest a generic relaxation effect of video interventions on autonomic regulation that we discuss in light of different theories mapping restorative effects of natural environments. Further, psychological characteristics like aspects of early life adversity and trait mindfulness could contribute to individual differences in autonomic regulation. This study contributes to a better understanding of autonomic and psychological responses to relaxation videos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika B E Benz
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Raphaela J Gaertner
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Maria Meier
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Eva Unternaehrer
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Child and Adolescent Research Department, Psychiatric University Hospitals Basel (UPK), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Simona Scharndke
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Clara Jupe
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Maya Wenzel
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ulrike U Bentele
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Stephanie J Dimitroff
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Bernadette F Denk
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jens C Pruessner
- Department of Psychology, Division of Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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13
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Wang Z, Li Y, An J, Dong W, Li H, Ma H, Wang J, Wu J, Jiang T, Wang G. Effects of Restorative Environment and Presence on Anxiety and Depression Based on Interactive Virtual Reality Scenarios. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137878. [PMID: 35805535 PMCID: PMC9266120 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression have been growing global mental health problems. The following studies explored the effect of interactive VR scenarios to find a low-cost and high-efficiency solution. Study 1 designed a 2 (anxiety and depression state) × 4 (interactive VR scenarios) experiment, the results of 20 participants showed that the designed scenarios had good restoration and presence, assisting to improve depression mood for people with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Study 2 further investigated the intervention effects of two environment types (urban and park) and four interactive activities (automatic viewing, free-roaming, fishing, and watering plants in the park environment), based on data from a 10-minute experiment conducted by 195 participants with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. The subjective scales, EEG and EMG, and scenario experience were analyzed and the results showed that: (1) the restorative and present VR scenarios were beneficial in alleviating state anxiety and depression; (2) the restorative environment and presence were significantly and positively related to the reduction of anxiety and depression respectively, moreover, presence mediated the restorative environment on the recovery from anxiety and depression; (3) the environmental settings, the complexity of interaction, human factors, and maturity of VR devices and technology were also key factors that influenced the effects of interactive VR scenario experience and intervention. These studies revealed VR psychological intervention scenarios could be designed with comprehensive factors. Moreover, they might help pave the way for future study in exploring the physiology and psychology mode in virtual and real spaces, enhancing intervention effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimeng Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (J.A.); (T.J.)
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jingchen An
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (J.A.); (T.J.)
| | - Wenyi Dong
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Hongqidi Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Huirui Ma
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Junhui Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Jianping Wu
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Ting Jiang
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (J.A.); (T.J.)
| | - Guangxin Wang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; (Z.W.); (Y.L.); (W.D.); (H.L.); (H.M.); (J.W.); (G.W.)
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14
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Marois A, Charbonneau B, Szolosi AM, Watson JM. The Differential Impact of Mystery in Nature on Attention: An Oculometric Study. Front Psychol 2021; 12:759616. [PMID: 34955980 PMCID: PMC8696187 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.759616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature exposure can provide benefits on stress, health and cognitive performance. According to Attention Restoration Theory (ART), the positive impact of nature on cognition is mainly driven by fascination. Fascinating properties of nature such as water or a winding hiking trail may capture involuntary attention, allowing the directed form of attention to rest and to recover. This claim has been supported by studies relying on eye-tracking measures of attention deployment, comparing exposure to urban and nature settings. Yet, recent studies have shown that promoting higher engagement with a nature setting can improve restorative benefits, hence challenging ART's view that voluntary attention is resting. Besides, recent evidence published by Szolosi et al. (2014) suggests that voluntary attention may be involved during exposure to high-mystery nature images which they showed as having greater potential for attention restoration. The current study explored how exposure to nature images of different scenic qualities in mystery (and restoration potential) could impact the engagement of attention. To do so, participants were shown nature images characterized by either low or high mystery properties (with allegedly low or high restoration potential, respectively) and were asked to evaluate their fascination and aesthetic levels. Concurrently, an eye tracker collected measures of pupil size, fixations and spontaneous blinks as indices of attentional engagement. Results showed that high-mystery nature images had higher engagement than low-mystery images as supported by the larger pupil dilations, the higher number of fixations and the reduced number of blinks and durations of fixations. Taken together, these results challenge ART's view that directed attention is merely resting during exposure to restorative nature and offer new hypotheses on potential mechanisms underlying attention restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Marois
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Thales Research and Technology Canada, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Brooke Charbonneau
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
- Department of Psychology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Andrew M. Szolosi
- Department of Recreation, Sport Pedagogy, and Consumer Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Jason M. Watson
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
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15
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Galvez-Pol A, Nadal M, Kilner JM. Emotional representations of space vary as a function of peoples' affect and interoceptive sensibility. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16150. [PMID: 34373488 PMCID: PMC8352937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most research on people's representation of space has focused on spatial appraisal and navigation. But there is more to space besides navigation and assessment: people have different emotional experiences at different places, which create emotionally tinged representations of space. Little is known about the emotional representation of space and the factors that shape it. The purpose of this study was to develop a graphic methodology to study the emotional representation of space and some of the environmental features (non-natural vs. natural) and personal features (affective state and interoceptive sensibility) that modulate it. We gave participants blank maps of the region where they lived and asked them to apply shade where they had happy/sad memories, and where they wanted to go after Covid-19 lockdown. Participants also completed self-reports on affective state and interoceptive sensibility. By adapting methods for analyzing neuroimaging data, we examined shaded pixels to quantify where and how strong emotions are represented in space. The results revealed that happy memories were consistently associated with similar spatial locations. Yet, this mapping response varied as a function of participants' affective state and interoceptive sensibility. Certain regions were associated with happier memories in participants whose affective state was more positive and interoceptive sensibility was higher. The maps of happy memories, desired locations to visit after lockdown, and regions where participants recalled happier memories as a function of positive affect and interoceptive sensibility overlayed significantly with natural environments. These results suggest that people's emotional representations of their environment are shaped by the naturalness of places, and by their affective state and interoceptive sensibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Galvez-Pol
- grid.507093.8Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa) and Research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS)
, Palma de Mallorca, Spain ,grid.9563.90000 0001 1940 4767Human Evolution and Cognition Research Group (EvoCog), Psychology Dept. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, 07122 Spain ,grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Dept. of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG UK
| | - Marcos Nadal
- grid.9563.90000 0001 1940 4767Human Evolution and Cognition Research Group (EvoCog), Psychology Dept. University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, 07122 Spain
| | - James M. Kilner
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Dept. of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG UK
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16
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Can Residential Greenspace Exposure Improve Pain Experience? A Comparison between Physical Visit and Image Viewing. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:healthcare9070918. [PMID: 34356296 PMCID: PMC8306991 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9070918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing the burden of pain via greenspace exposure is a rising research topic. However, insufficient evidence has been found in relation to the environmental effect itself. Residential greenspace, as a convenient but limited natural environment for urban dwellers, has benefits and services yet to be discovered. Therefore, the current study recruited 24 young adults to evaluate the effects of physical visit to, or image viewing of, residential greenspace on pain perception and related psychophysiological outcomes, via simulated pain. Pain threshold and tolerance were recorded via the level of pain stimuli, and pain intensity was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The state scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and two adjective pairs were employed to measure the state anxiety and subjective stress, respectively. Meanwhile, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure (BP) were measured to investigate physiological responses. Besides, Scenic Beauty Estimation (SBE) was also employed to assess participants' preference regarding the experimental environments. The results revealed that visiting the greenspace significantly increased the pain threshold and tolerance, while no significant effect was observed for image viewing. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in pain-related psychophysiological indices between the experimental settings, but significantly negative associations were found between the scores of SBE and subjective stress and state anxiety. In conclusion, the current study brings experimental evidence of improving pain experience via residential greenspace exposure, while the related psychophysiological benefits require further investigation.
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