A study of the effect of the shape, the color, and the texture of Ikebana on a brain activity

Abstract

A study was performed on the difference between beginners and experts of Ikebana. The brain activity measurement results showed that for beginners, the incidence of α wave increased with time both during the planning and the production of the arrangement. However, for experts, the incidence of α wave decreased with time during the planning and increased during the production of the arrangement. This result indicated that the experts concentrate the mind more during the planning through the course of the arrangement, and relaxes more during the production of the arrangement. Also, the result of questionnaire survey showed that beginners were unable to recognize the formal beauty of an Ikebana arrangement, while experts were able to evaluate it correctly. It indicates that the experts have the special criteria of the formal beauty of Ikebana cultivated through the long-term training. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.