Abstract
Compared to the number of studies on mental cognition, very few studies have described the effect of landscape on physical response. However, physical responses are the most precise and most easily evaluated factors for determining landscape benefits. Therefore, this study incorporated the psychophysical paradigm and therapeutic landscape therories to test the relationships between different landscape elements and respondents' electromvographic response. The findings could help designers to establish beneficial landscapes for different users. In the study, different landscape types, which included various landscape elements, were the source of stimulus. The electromvographic response of respondents was recorded for further analysis. Kaplan & Kaplan's landscape types were used to categorize landscape elements. Testing was performed at the Space Theater of the National Museum of Natural Science. Respondents were randomly chosen from among museum visitiors. The EMG4 biofeedback recorder by MOE Co. was used as the recording instrument for respondents' electromvographic response. After the physical survey, respondents were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their psychological response during the testing period and their physical condition. Water landscapes and mountain landscapes were found to be the most influential landscape elements, based on electromvographic response. Respondents' psychological and physical conditions did not show significant differences.