Effect of green odor on physiological responses to mental stress in humans

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We investigated the influence of green odor (a mixture of equal amounts of (Z)-3-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenal diluted to 0.03% (w/w)) administration on various physiological responses to two types of mild mental stress in human subjects. Stroop Color-Word Test significantly reduced finger blood flow and cutaneous temperature, and raised palmer sweating rate. These responses were clearly attenuated by green odor inhalation. In addition, green odor tended to depress plasma ACTH level after the mental stress. During 24-h isolation in a hospital room, green odor spray significantly lowered rectal temperature of subjects only during sleeping time. At the end of isolation, plasma glucose level was significantly elevated by green odor treatments. These results suggest a good possibility that green odor inhalation may attenuate physiological responses to acute mild mental stress in humans.