Physiological Effects of Touching Coated Wood

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• The human sense of touch plays a crucial role in emotional and physiological responses.
• Understanding the impact of natural materials, like wood, on human well-being is an emerging area of research.
• Previous studies have explored the benefits of nature exposure, but the specific effects of tactile wood stimulation require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological effects of touching different wood finishes on brain and autonomic nervous system activity.
• To determine if tactile stimulation with wood can induce a relaxation response.
• To compare the effects of various wood coatings (uncoated, oil, vitreous, urethane, mirror) on physiological measures.

Main Methods:

• 18 female university students participated in the study.
• Brain activity was measured using near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy to assess oxyhemoglobin concentrations in the prefrontal cortex.
• Autonomic nervous activity was assessed via heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate, analyzing the high-frequency (HF) component and the low-frequency (LF)/HF ratio.

Main Results:

• Tactile stimulation with uncoated wood significantly calmed prefrontal cortex activity compared to urethane and mirror finishes.
• Uncoated wood increased parasympathetic nervous activity (HF component of HRV) and decreased heart rate compared to vitreous, urethane, and mirror finishes.
• Oil- and vitreous-finished wood also demonstrated calming effects on the left prefrontal cortex and reduced heart rate relative to mirror-finished wood.

Conclusions:

• Touching uncoated wood induces a physiological relaxation response, evidenced by calmed prefrontal cortex activity and increased parasympathetic nervous activity.
• The finish of the wood significantly influences its physiological effects, with natural and minimally processed finishes yielding greater relaxation benefits.
• These findings suggest that tactile interaction with natural wood surfaces can be a simple yet effective method for stress reduction and promoting well-being.