ISHS Acta Horticulturae 790: VIII International People-Plant Symposium on Exploring Therapeutic Powers of Flowers, Greenery and Nature
PEOPLE'S RESPONSE TO DISCOMFORT IN THE PRESENCE OF INTERIOR PLANTS OR ART |
| Authors: | V.I. Lohr, C.H. Pearson-Mims |
| Keywords: | benefits of plants, foliage plants, human issues in horticulture, human well-being, pain, people-plant interactions, response to nature, room assessment |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2008.790.24 |
| Abstract:
Roger Ulrich's well-known research showed that patients recovering from surgery used fewer pain-reducing medications when in a hospital room with a view of trees rather than a view of a building. The experiment we conducted also examined the role of plants in pain perception. We found that more subjects felt discomfort from a hand submerged in ice water if they were in a room without plants than if they were in a room with plants. This was true even if the room without plants had other colorful objects that might help people get their minds off of the discomfort. Results from a room assessment confirmed that the control room with non-plant objects was as interesting and colorful as the room with plants, but the presence of plants was perceived as making the air in the room fresher. | |
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