Association between biophilia, self-perceived emotional state, and brain bioelectrical activity during the perception of natural and urban landscapes

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies suggest that exposure to natural environments reduces stress and enhances emotional well-being, often accompanied by decreased cortical activation. In contrast, urban environments produce the opposite effect. However, the specific electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms and brain regions involved in relaxation mechanisms, as well as the factors contributing to individual differences in these responses, remain unclear.

AIM: To examine the relationship between biophilia, self-reported emotional state, and brain bioelectrical activity during the perception of natural and urban landscapes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 83 university students (mean age 20.0±1.5 years) who assessed their biophilia and emotional response (valence, arousal, and amplitude) after watching custom-made films depicting either natural or urban landscapes. EEG recordings (19-channel) were obtained from 37 participants. Psychometric assessments of biophilia and emotional self-perception were analyzed in relation to EEG frequency-spatial activity across seven spectral bands.

RESULTS: A significant positive correlation was observed between biophilia scores and self-reported arousal in response to both natural and urban landscapes (0.41< Rs< 0.51, 0.01< p< 0.05, Spearman’s test). Natural landscapes elicited positive emotions, whereas urban environments induced negative emotional responses. A positive correlation of arousal levels during natural landscape perception was observed in low-frequency delta and theta EEG bands, both in the baseline state and during film viewing (0.40< Rs< 0.72, 0.005< p< 0.05). The perception of natural landscapes was associated with arousal/valence modulation in alpha and beta rhythms, primarily localized in the frontal and temporoparietal regions, with a left-hemisphere dominance. In contrast, urban landscapes exhibited greater right-hemisphere activation. The correlation with psychometric self-assessment of biophilia was observed in baseline EEG alpha and gamma frequencies.

CONCLUSION: Watching natural landscapes induces positive emotional states, whereas urban environments trigger negative emotional responses. Psychometric biophilia scores and emotional self-assessments are reflected in baseline brain activity patterns, with enhanced relaxation effects following exposure to natural landscapes and attenuated effects after urban stimulus exposure. EEG correlates of emotional self-assessment indicate predominant left-hemisphere engagement in natural landscape perception, whereas urban landscapes are associated with greater right-hemisphere activation.