Effect of Gardening on Brain Activity
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Anxiety, Depression, Depression |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 26 - 49 |
| Updated: | 7/4/2018 |
| Start Date: | September 2014 |
| End Date: | May 2015 |
The objective of the research is to test the hypothesis that participating in group-based
gardening activities alters brain network activation and function, and that such change
occurring in the brain forms the neurobiological basis for much of the nonphysical activity
portion of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and horticultural therapy. Assessment of the
effects of the gardening activities on the experimental population will take two approaches,
the first being the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess the regions
of the brain that may become activated as a consequence of experiencing the cumulative
gardening activities and associated stimuli. The allied approach will employ widely used and
well-established self-reported assessment instruments that will capture information about the
health and well-being that will then provide a psychometrically-based before and after
physical and health summary of the participants in the control group and those engaged in the
gardening activities.
gardening activities alters brain network activation and function, and that such change
occurring in the brain forms the neurobiological basis for much of the nonphysical activity
portion of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and horticultural therapy. Assessment of the
effects of the gardening activities on the experimental population will take two approaches,
the first being the use of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to assess the regions
of the brain that may become activated as a consequence of experiencing the cumulative
gardening activities and associated stimuli. The allied approach will employ widely used and
well-established self-reported assessment instruments that will capture information about the
health and well-being that will then provide a psychometrically-based before and after
physical and health summary of the participants in the control group and those engaged in the
gardening activities.
The goal of this project is to better understand how interacting and working with plants in a
group gardening activities program that takes place in a greenhouse effects patterns of brain
activity and overall health and well-being. There has been essentially no assessment of the
effects of gardening or engaging in gardening activities on brain activity using functional
MRI (fMRI) approaches. This study will employ visual stimuli to assess the effects of the
gardening activities treatment on Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) responses as revealed
by fMRI in study subjects in a comparison of responses before and after engaging in the
gardening intervention program.
Specifically this study seeks to determine whether engaging in gardening activities taking
place in a greenhouse can influence brain activity and function, and result in changes in
overall quality of life status of subjects in a wellness population.
The total study population (N = 23) will consist of 11 healthy women in the control group,
and 12 healthy women in the treatment group. There will be fMRI brain scans and psychometric
pre- and post-intervention assessments administered to the study subjects. The fMRI and
psychometric assessments will be administered within 10 days prior to the start of the
intervention, and within 10 days following the completion of the treatment intervention. The
control group will continue with normal daily life over a seven to eight week interval, and
receive no other intervention. The treatment group will be divided into two groups of six
women each that will receive the gardening intervention on different days of the week. The
participants in the treatment group will receive an experimental intervention consisting of
12 gardening sessions, each approximately 60 minutes in duration over a six week treatment
period. Each gardening session will take place at the same time of day twice each week, and
follow a standardized programming sequence to ensure equivalency of intervention across all
gardening sessions. Ambient environmental conditions in the greenhouse during the gardening
sessions will be monitored and recorded. The gardening activities will emphasize growing
plants from seeds, plant propagation techniques, transplanting, and plant-mediated taste,
visual, olfactory and touch sensory stimulation. All gardening sessions will begin with a
short educational module introducing the plants and gardening activities taking place during
each session. In addition to the pre- and post-intervention assessments, psychometric
assessments will be administered for depression and mood states at specific time points
during the gardening activities to the treatment group to evaluate any changes over time
resulting from the intervention.
group gardening activities program that takes place in a greenhouse effects patterns of brain
activity and overall health and well-being. There has been essentially no assessment of the
effects of gardening or engaging in gardening activities on brain activity using functional
MRI (fMRI) approaches. This study will employ visual stimuli to assess the effects of the
gardening activities treatment on Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) responses as revealed
by fMRI in study subjects in a comparison of responses before and after engaging in the
gardening intervention program.
Specifically this study seeks to determine whether engaging in gardening activities taking
place in a greenhouse can influence brain activity and function, and result in changes in
overall quality of life status of subjects in a wellness population.
The total study population (N = 23) will consist of 11 healthy women in the control group,
and 12 healthy women in the treatment group. There will be fMRI brain scans and psychometric
pre- and post-intervention assessments administered to the study subjects. The fMRI and
psychometric assessments will be administered within 10 days prior to the start of the
intervention, and within 10 days following the completion of the treatment intervention. The
control group will continue with normal daily life over a seven to eight week interval, and
receive no other intervention. The treatment group will be divided into two groups of six
women each that will receive the gardening intervention on different days of the week. The
participants in the treatment group will receive an experimental intervention consisting of
12 gardening sessions, each approximately 60 minutes in duration over a six week treatment
period. Each gardening session will take place at the same time of day twice each week, and
follow a standardized programming sequence to ensure equivalency of intervention across all
gardening sessions. Ambient environmental conditions in the greenhouse during the gardening
sessions will be monitored and recorded. The gardening activities will emphasize growing
plants from seeds, plant propagation techniques, transplanting, and plant-mediated taste,
visual, olfactory and touch sensory stimulation. All gardening sessions will begin with a
short educational module introducing the plants and gardening activities taking place during
each session. In addition to the pre- and post-intervention assessments, psychometric
assessments will be administered for depression and mood states at specific time points
during the gardening activities to the treatment group to evaluate any changes over time
resulting from the intervention.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Premenopausal women
- 26 - 49 years of age
- Not pregnant
- Non-gardener
- Non-smoker
- Good Health
- Able to participate in all aspects of the study, including working with plants.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Uncomfortable in close spaces (claustrophobia)
- Allergies to plants
- Allergies to plant parts like pollen
- Allergies to plant-based foods
- No additions to alcohol or to recreational drugs or prescription medications
- Not suffering from recurring pain, and
- No diseases, disorders or disabilities that affect daily life.
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