RESEARCH NEWS STORYTokyo, April 27, 2023
Chiba University

Sounds from Nature: A Soothing Remedy forGambling Addiction
Researchers explore the benefits of using calming sounds from nature to lower the stresslevels of individuals with gambling addiction
Stress is a major factor in the development and relapse of gambling addiction. Engaging inalternative leisure activities like forest bathing can replace gambling behavior and reducethe incidence of addiction. For more insights, researchers from Japan have now investigatedif calming sounds from nature can help lower the stress levels of individuals with gambling
addiction and if nature therapy is effective in helping them relax, just as it does forindividuals without gambling addiction.

Title: Nature-derived sounds have de-stress value for people with gambling addiction
Caption: Fig 1. Oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentration in the prefrontal cortex in response toauditory stimulation using nature sounds was remarkably low in participants, indicating
positive physiological effects. Fig 2. Using the modified semantic differential questionnaire,
which evaluates the emotional response of participants to auditory stimuli using three sets ofindices (comfortable to uncomfortable, relaxed to awakening, and natural to artificial),
researchers found positive psychological effects of nature-derived sound.
Credit: Yoshifumi Miyazaki from Chiba University
License Type: Original content
Gambling addiction, also called “pathological gambling” and “gambling disorder (GD),” isknown to have severe economic, social, mental, and physical consequences on those affected.
One of the major factors contributing to the development and relapse of this disorder is stress.
However, studies show that replacing gambling with alternative leisure activities may reduce
the likelihood of developing the disorder. In recent years, forest bathing, or “shinrin-yoku,” aform of nature therapy, has emerged as an effective and convenient way to alleviate stress.
In addition, numerous scientific studies have indicated that exposure to nature can lower
stress levels and help the body relax.
In the wake of proposals to introduce commercial casinos in Japan, a research team led by
Yoshifumi Miyazaki, Professor Emeritus at the Centre for Environment, Health, and Field
Sciences at Chiba University, Japan, sought to explore the potential of nature therapy,
particularly insect sounds, in reducing stress responses among individuals with GD. The team
aimed to compare the physiological and psychological effects of nature and city sounds onpatients with GD. The research team, which comprised Hiroko Ochiai from the Department
of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center;
assistant professor Harumi Ikei and research fellow Hyunju Jo from the Center forEnvironment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University; and Masayuki Ohishi from Ohishi
Clinic, Yokohama, Japan, made their study available online on March 27, 2023, and it is all set
to be published in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine.
The study recruited 22 Japanese male participants aged between 25 and 60 years with adiagnosis of pathological gambling based on a total score of 5 or higher on the South Oaks
Gambling Screen scale. The participants were randomized into two groups and exposed toeither digital nature sounds of insects or traffic sounds at a city intersection, which werepresented in a counterbalanced manner. As part of testing the physiological effects ofexposure, the autonomic nervous activity of the participants was measured using sensors forheart rate variability, and a near-infrared spectroscopy system was used to measure changesin oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in their bilateral prefrontal cortex. Participants’subjective evaluation was done using the modified version of the semantic differential
method questionnaire, and the Profiles of Mood States, second edition (POMS2); this formed
part of the psychological effects assessment.
The results of the study strongly indicated that nature-based stimulus exposures induced
physiological relaxation and other positive responses among individuals with GD. There wasa significant decrease in oxy-Hb concentration in the bilateral prefrontal cortex of participants
while listening to nature sounds. Put simply; it made them feel more relaxed and positive.
This was corroborated by the low POMS2 negative emotions subscale scores and was attested
by improvement in participants’ overall mood, a sense of comfort, and relaxation.

Noting the importance of the study, Prof. Miyazaki says, “It has also been reported that people
are spending more time at home and are under stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These circumstances strongly point to the need for familiar relaxation methods. The results ofthis experiment suggest that the auditory stimulation of nature-derived sounds is also
beneficial for patients with GD.”
In all fairness, the findings of this study highlight the importance of nature sounds in managing
negative emotional states in patients with GD.
“Nature therapy may be useful for stress reduction in various patient groups and the general
population, especially as our society becomes more artificialized and stress levels increase. As
scientific evidence continues to accumulate, various nature-derived stimuli, including theauditory stimulus used in this study, may contribute to reducing stress in people,” concludes
Prof. Miyazaki.
Although further research is needed to explore its long-term implications for individuals with
GD, nature-derived sounds could be viable stress-relieving nature therapy for people withserious addictions as well as healthy individuals.
About Professor Yoshifumi Miyazaki
Yoshifumi Miyazaki is a Professor Emeritus from the Centre for Environment, Health andField Sciences at Chiba University, Japan. He holds a doctorate in medicine from the Tokyo
Medical and Dental University. He has published over 200 academic articles and has
authored dozens of books on the effects and benefits of nature therapy. In honor of his
research efforts, Professor Miyazaki has received awards from the Japanese Ministry ofAgriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries & the Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology.
Funding
This study was supported by JKA and received promotion funds from KEIRIN RACE (2020P-224
and 2022P-277).
Reference:
Title of original paper: Relaxation Effect of Nature Sound Exposure on Gambling Disorder
Patients: A Crossover Study
Authors: Hiroko Ochiai1*, Harumi Ikei2*, Hyunju Jo2, Masayuki Ohishi3, Yoshifumi Miyazaki2
Affiliations:
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, National Hospital Organization
Tokyo Medical Center, Meguro-ku, Japan
2. Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Japan
3. Ohishi Clinic, Yokohama, Japan
Journal: Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine
DOI: 10.1089/jicm.2022.0611
Contact:Yoshifumi Miyazaki
Centre for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University,
Address: 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-0882, Japan
Email: ymiyazaki@faculty.chiba-u.jp

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