Cai Yan, Wang Qihao, Sun Miao, Bu Wanning, Yin Jiahui, Ning Wei
College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Jilin, 130118, China.
Research Institute of Forestry, State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 10;15(1):24836. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91345-w.
In the context of escalating urbanization and modernization, urban residents are facing a progressive rise in stress levels, particularly during winter when severe cold and limited daylight hours intensify psychological strain and physical fatigue. Despite the acknowledged health benefits of brief exposure to natural settings, research on the restorative effects of virtual winter forest settings remains limited. This study undertook the creation of immersive winter forest trail landscapes using virtual technology, generating six distinct audiovisual configurations by manipulating variables such as Evergreen Tree Density (ETD) and Event Ambient Sound (EAS). A cohort of 132 participants (N = 22) engaged in a stress-induction experiment involving a 5-minute virtual landscape exploration within indoor settings. Psychological metrics were assessed through the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and Perceived Restored Soundscape Scale (PRSS), while changes in brain alpha and beta waves and neuroemotional indicators were monitored via Emotiv EPOC X during the participants' virtual experience. The impact of the virtual winter forest trail landscape on participants' psychological and physiological perceptions was analyzed. Findings revealed that: (1) the virtual winter forest trail contributed to heightened positive emotions (p = 0.001); (2) diverse audiovisual configurations positively influenced audiovisual nerve relaxation, as evidenced by EEG data, albeit with varying degrees of efficacy; (3) winter forest trail environments characterized by high green visibility significantly facilitate the physical and mental recovery of visitors; (4) multi-person activity sounds outperformed single-player audio in terms of restorative benefits, while companionship enhances the healing process; and (5) interactions involving multiple people and sound production significantly enhanced recovery benefits (p = 0.000) in a forested trail environment dense with evergreens during winter. In contrast, the lowest recovery benefits were observed when individuals strolled alone. This research offers a theoretical foundation for the advancement and implementation of winter forest landscape therapy and serves as a scholarly reference for leveraging snow and ice tourism resources in forest environments.
在城市化和现代化进程不断加速的背景下，城市居民面临的压力水平日益升高，尤其是在冬季，严寒和日照时间有限会加剧心理压力和身体疲劳。尽管人们公认短暂接触自然环境对健康有益，但关于虚拟冬季森林环境恢复效果的研究仍然有限。本研究利用虚拟技术创建了沉浸式冬季森林小径景观，通过操纵常绿树密度（ETD）和事件环境声音（EAS）等变量生成了六种不同的视听配置。132名参与者（N = 22）参与了一项压力诱导实验，在室内环境中进行了5分钟的虚拟景观探索。通过情绪状态剖面图（POMS）和感知恢复声景量表（PRSS）评估心理指标，同时在参与者的虚拟体验过程中，通过Emotiv EPOC X监测大脑阿尔法和贝塔波以及神经情绪指标的变化。分析了虚拟冬季森林小径景观对参与者心理和生理感知的影响。研究结果表明：（1）虚拟冬季森林小径有助于增强积极情绪（p = 0.001）；（2）不同的视听配置对视听神经放松有积极影响，脑电图数据证明了这一点，尽管效果程度不同；（3）绿色可见度高特征的冬季森林小径环境显著促进游客的身心恢复；（4）多人活动声音在恢复效益方面优于单人音频，而陪伴则增强了治愈过程；（5）在冬季常绿茂密的森林小径环境中，涉及多人和声音产生的互动显著增强了恢复效益（p = 0.000）。相比之下，当个体独自漫步时，恢复效益最低。本研究为冬季森林景观疗法的推进和实施提供了理论基础，并为利用森林环境中的冰雪旅游资源提供了学术参考。
