Search Results (2)

The office environment significantly influences employees’ work efficiency and health. With the increasing prevalence of modern, enclosed and monotonous office settings, employees often work under high-intensity conditions for extended periods. This situation leads to physiological and psychological fatigue, which in turn affects work efficiency and overall well-being. This study explores how olfactory stimulation influences physiological and psychological fatigue in office environments. It also examines its effects on cognitive recovery. Through market research and user surveys, three types of scents were selected as experimental materials (floral, fruity, and forest scents). Utilizing multi-channel fatigue identification technology and wearable biosensors, the study monitored in real-time the physiological responses of employees to different olfactory stimuli, such as pupil diameter, heart rate variability (HRV), electromyography (EMG), and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Additionally, subjective evaluation questionnaires were used to comprehensively assess the effects of olfactory stimulation on psychological fatigue. The results showed that all three olfactory interventions to some extent alleviated employee fatigue and improved cognitive abilities. Among them, the floral intervention had a better effect on the recovery of physiological fatigue, the fruity intervention had a better effect on the recovery of psychological fatigue and cognitive abilities, and the forest intervention had a slightly inferior recovery effect but could effectively reduce time load. This research aims to provide new ideas for the design of sustainable office working environments. Introducing appropriate olfactory stimuli can effectively alleviate employees’ office fatigue, enhance their work efficiency and overall well-being. Full article

The large number of underutilized tree residues in Japan is a matter of concern, and their appropriate application needs to be promoted. Trees are very diverse, and there are differences in the volatile essential oil compounds and biological activities among different tree species. However, the effects of these tree species’ characteristics on human sensitivity and mental and physical functionality remain underexplored. This study investigated the effects of essential oils from multiple tree species on subjective and physiological responses. The essential oils from nine tree species were tested, subjective scent assessments were conducted, and their effect on autonomic nervous activity was measured. The volatile profiles of the oils were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Our findings revealed clear differences in the composition of volatile essential oils among species, which influenced the scent evaluation and individual preferences. We suggest that scent preferences have the potential to influence physiological responses. The findings indicate that volatile essential oils could play a potential role in making use of tree resources effectively, and they may also be beneficial for maintaining human health. Full article