Biophilic environment with visual-olfactory stimuli contributes to psychophysiological restoration and cognitive enhancement

The increasing prevalence of indoor isolation in modern society has resulted in a rise in mental health issues among urban residents. To address this, biophilic design has emerged as a potential solution to reconnect occupants with nature. It has been confirmed that indoor plants effectively improve human well-being by stimulating sensory experiences such as vision and olfaction. However, there is limited systematic study on the impact of single-sensory and multisensory stimuli from indoor plants on occupant health, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this research, the impact of visual, olfactory, and combined stimuli from coriander plants on psychophysiological restoration and cognitive performance were analyzed utilizing a method that combined subjective evaluation, electrophysiology, salivary biochemical analysis, and cognitive task. Additionally, the potential intervention mechanisms of different types of sensory stimuli were explored from neurological, endocrine and immunological perspectives. The results indicated that the various types of sensory stimuli associated with coriander plants exhibited different intervention effects on mood and cognition, with the combined stimulus demonstrating better effects compared to single-sensory stimulus. All three stimuli—visual, olfactory and combined —induced spontaneous neural oscillations associated with relaxation or cognitive function, and significant changes occurred in metabolic pathways related to antidepressant, anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective effects. It appeared that visual stimulus elicited a greater response from the nervous system, while olfactory stimulus elicited a greater response from the endocrine and immune systems. This research provides an important reference for psychological interventions that utilize visual-olfactory stimuli from indoor plants. •Impacts of visual, olfactory, and combined stimuli of plants on health were studied.•All three types of sensory stimuli could improve mood and cognition.•Combined stimulus was more effective than single-sensory stimulus.•Visual stimulus elicited a greater response from the nervous system.•Olfactory stimulus elicited a greater response from the endocrine and immune systems.