Neurophysiological Changes in Elementary School Parents after Plant Cultivation Activity

This study was conducted to find out the neurophysiological changes before and after plant cultivation activity in elementary school parents. Twenty seven subjects participated in total 10 sessions (once a week) of plant cultivating activities and for each session one subject attended an individual activity and the others attended a group activity. Electroencephalography(EEG) and electrocardiogram(ECG) of the subject from the individual activity type and three random subjects from the group activity type were measured before and after each session. The measurements of 7 sessions were analyzed and illustrations of brain map was obtained from the average of each electrode. As a result, the alpha and beta waves of all participants after participating in plant cultivating activities were higher than before participating in the activities, which indicates that the activities increase the activity of the brain. Absolute slow alpha wave (ASA), absolute fast alpha wave (AFA), absolute low beta wave (ALB), and absolute mid beta wave (AMB) were increased after participating in plant cultivating activities, which implies that plant cultivating activities were effective in improving physiological conditions, including stability and relaxation, as well as immersion, attention and concentration. There was no statistically significant difference between those who participated in individual activities and those who participated in group activities. However, both individual and group participants showed higher relaxation, stability and concentration rate after the plant cultivating activity. This study suggests that plant cultivating activities are effective in achieving physiological stability and relaxation and improving immersion, attention and concentration in elementary school parents.