Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
08:25
Combining Eye-tracking Data with an Analysis of Video Content from Free-viewing a Video of a Walk in an Urban Park Environment
Published on: May 7, 2019
Context dependent sensory integration modulates landscape preference in urban parks
Yonghong Gan1, Jiayi Li2, Jiaqi Huang2
1School of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Minnan Normal University, Zhangzhou, 363000, China. gyh1071@mnnu.edu.cn.
Scientific Reports
|May 9, 2026
Summary
Urban park design should prioritize multisensory experiences over visual elements for psychological restoration. A new holistic perception model shows soundscape and audiovisual harmony significantly influence park preferences, enhancing restorative qualities.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Urban Planning
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Urban parks are vital for psychological restoration, yet traditional planning is visually biased.
- Human perception in complex environments is multisensory and non-linear.
- Existing models overlook the integration of auditory and visual cues in landscape preference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose and test a Context-Dependent Attribute-based Holistic Perception Model (Path B) for urban park design.
- To investigate how auditory perception and Audiovisual Harmony (AV-Harmony) influence landscape preferences across different park zones.
- To compare the efficacy of the holistic model against traditional element-based models.
Main Methods:
- Pooled analysis of 472 participants across three park typologies in China.
- Comparison of an Element-based Aggregation Model (Path A) and an Attribute-based Holistic Perception Model (Path B).
- Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) estimates to verify model performance and identify significant predictors.
Main Results:
- The Attribute-based Holistic Perception Model (Path B) significantly outperformed element-based models (Adj. R² = 0.526 vs. 0.098).
- Resting Zones prioritized Acoustic Filtering (B=0.343, p<0.001), linking soundscape quality to satisfaction.
- Activity Zones favored Audiovisual Harmony (AV-Harmony) (B=0.566), emphasizing semantic congruence.
Conclusions:
- A holistic, context-adaptive perception model is superior for understanding landscape preferences in urban parks.
- Sensory weighting shifts dynamically based on functional zone, prioritizing soundscape quality or AV-Harmony.
- Shifting design focus from 'Greening' to 'sensory Tuning' can create more restorative and equitable urban health infrastructure.
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