The effect of ApiHouse experience on human brain electrical activity and anxiety levels

Date

2023-8-28

Author

Tandırcıoğlu, Yankı

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An ApiHouse is a special shed designed to induce relaxation in humans through an experience that involves lying on a bed adjacent to four beehives. Bees access their hives through openings located outside the shed so that there is no direct interaction between humans and bees. Although the individuals’ experiences support its relaxing effect, no scientific studies were carried out, highlighting a gap in the field of apitherapy. The present study aims to evaluate whether ApiHouse experience and solely listening to the sound of bee buzzing sound within the ApiHouse affects the frontal theta activity and anxiety levels. We collected EEG data with a portable EEG device (Muse 2) and performed an anxiety inventory (STAI-AD). We found no significant effect of ApiHouse experience and sound exposure on frontal theta activity. On the other hand, we found that both ApiHouse experience and sound exposure have a significant effect on decreasing anxiety levels. We also analyzed the sound recordings of the ApiHouse and found that the peak frequencies were between 237 Hz and 416 Hz. Within the limitations, this study suggests there are potential therapeutic advantages of spending time in an ApiHouse and listening to the bee buzzing sound within the ApiHouse, which appears to induce relaxation. Although the increase in frontal theta power did not reach statistical significance, the reduction in anxiety levels and frontal beta activity paved the way for new research opportunities and indicates further research with a larger sample size and in a more isolated environment are necessary.

Subject Keywords

Apitherapy, ApiHouse, Sound of Beehives, Brain Electrical Activity, Ecopsychology

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/105464

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis