EEG for the Study of Environmental Neuroscience

This chapter examines the use of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as a tool in environmental neuroscience, looking at its technical attributes, data, practicality, and the exclusive advantages it possesses over other neuroscientific techniques. Traditionally, environmental psychology research has employed psychophysiological indicators such as heart rate, level of cortisol, and skin conductance, to measure the restoring potential of natural spaces. These measures have generally been preferred due to their easy use, minimal invasiveness, and adaptability to outdoor settings. Nevertheless, over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in utilizing neuroscientific methodologies within environmental neuroscience. In this context, EEG has emerged as an important tool for exploring the intricate relationship between humans and the environment. As environmental neuroscience is a scientific field where ecological validity is crucially important, the use of EEG features important attributes, as it is noninvasive, and integrates into diverse experimental designs, including those set outdoors. Recent findings from EEG studies highlight that exposure to natural settings—be they outdoor experiences or exposure to visual stimuli like images or videos in laboratory settings—is associated with an increase of the activity of some brain waves, specifically alpha and theta waves, that have been commonly linked to relaxation. As technology improves, the importance of EEG as a methodology for effectively decoding the human–nature connection may become even more important. The future of environmental neuroscience and EEG research in this context promises deeper insights into our bond with the environment and paves the way for theory development in the context of environmental psychology and knowledge transfer into practical fields such as architecture and urban planning.