Effect of Gardening on Brain Activity

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Quality of Life

Interventions

OTHER

Gardening

The intervention consists of twice weekly group sessions of gardening activities of 60 minutes in duration that will take place in a greenhouse. A total of 12 gardening sessions administered over a period of six weeks will include planting seeds, bulbs and tubers, transplanting seedlings, vegetative propagation and sight, smell, taste and touch sensory based activities.

PROCEDURE

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging will be employed to assess whether engaging in gardening activities in a greenhouse does or does not alter the spatial patterns of brain network activation relative to changes that occur between the groups.

BEHAVIORAL

psychometric assessments

The following assessments will be used: The SF-36 Health Survey assessment instrument (Ware and Sherbourne 1992; Hays et al 1993), the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition (BDI-II) (Beck et al 1988), The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) instrument (Form Y) (Spielberger et al 1983), the Profile of Mood States 2nd edition short form for adults instrument (POMS2-AS), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (Cohen et al 1983) for changes that occur in between the groups.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Foliage Foundation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Florida

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Charles L Guy, PhD · University of Florida

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

26 Years

Max Age

49 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-09-30

Primary Completion

2015-05-31

Completion

2015-05-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations