title: Effect of olfactory stimulation by fresh rose flowers on autonomic nervous activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the effect of olfactory stimulation by fresh rose flowers, which exude a strong fragrance, on heart rate variability.
  
  
  METHODS
  A chamber with an artificial climate maintained at 25°C with 50% relative humidity and 230 lux illumination at the Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen female university and graduate students (mean age, 21.6±1.5 years; age range, 19.0-26.0 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh rose flowers as an olfactory stimulant, with air as a control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rate variability and subjective evaluations. The power levels of the high-frequency (HF) (0.15-0.40 Hz) and low-frequency (LF) (0.04-0.15 Hz) components of heart rate variability were calculated by the maximum-entropy method. The HF power was considered to reflect parasympathetic nervous activity. The LF/HF power ratio was determined to reflect the sympathetic nervous activity. A modified semantic differential method was used to perform subjective evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fresh rose flowers induced (1) a significant increase in parasympathetic nervous activities and (2) an increase in "comfortable" and "natural" feelings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that olfactory stimulation by fresh rose flowers induced physiological and psychological relaxation.
authors: 1 Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences, Chiba University , Chiba, Japan .
authors: Miho
authors: M
authors: Igarashi
authors: Chorong
authors: C
authors: Song
authors: Harumi
authors: H
authors: Ikei
authors: Tatsuro
authors: T
authors: Ohira
authors: Yoshifumi
authors: Y
authors: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019341:Aromatherapy; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D012063:Relaxation; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry; D012903:Smell; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile