JP2017072524A - Anti-motion sickness fragrance evaluation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an anti-motion sickness fragrance evaluation method which enables accurate evaluation of fragrances having an anti-motion sickness effect.SOLUTION: An anti-motion sickness fragrance evaluation method of the present invention comprises; a first step of preparing a test space with a display device for displaying images of outside scenery captured from a vehicle seat, a drug container for accommodating a drug containing a fragrance, and an acquisition device for acquiring physiological information of a subject; a second step of making the subject in the test space view an image displayed by the display device and smell the fragrance of the drug discharged from the drug container while acquiring physiological information of the subject by an acquisition device; and a third step of evaluating the fragrance based on changes in the physiological information of the subject which is acquired by the acquisition device in the second step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for evaluating a scent for motion sickness.

  Good fragrance is known to have a high relaxing effect. For example, with regard to the relationship between natural essential oils and the autonomic nervous system, many studies have been conducted starting with aromatherapy. For example, in Non-Patent Document 1, it has been found that bergamot essential oil reduces the fatigue of a subject. ).

“Effect of fragrance bath on autonomic nervous system and emotion by Bergamot essential oil”, Eri Watanabe et al., Aroma Research No. 54 (Vol.14 / No.2 2013)

  The scent effect as described above can be used for various purposes, and as one of them, it is possible to suppress motion sickness. However, motion sickness has a large variation among people, and it is difficult to specify a fragrance that satisfies many people. For example, in an evaluation method that relies on the subjectivity of a subject such as sensory evaluation, it is difficult to specify a fragrance that is effective in stopping motion sickness. The present invention has been made to solve this problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume that can accurately evaluate a perfume effective for motion sickness. .

  The method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to the present invention includes a display device that displays an image obtained by photographing the outside of a vehicle from a vehicle seat, a medicine container that contains a medicine containing the flavor, and an acquisition device that acquires physiological information of a subject. The test space having the first step, and for the subject in the test space, the acquisition device acquires the physiological information of the subject while displaying the video displayed on the display device, and A second step for smelling the medicine discharged from the medicine container, and a third step for evaluating the fragrance from a change in the physiological information of the subject acquired by the acquisition device during the second step. And.

  In the method for evaluating a motion sickness prevention fragrance, the second step can be performed on a plurality of subjects.

  In the evaluation method for each of the above motion sickness perfume, the method further comprises the step of preparing a plurality of the medicines having different perfume, performing the first and second steps for each of the medicines, and in the third step, Among the plurality of medicines, the evaluation of the medicine having a small change in physiological information can be made high.

  In each of the above-described evaluation methods for motion sickness, the physiological information may be at least one of information based on an electrocardiogram, information based on skin conductance reaction, and information based on respiration of the subject.

  In the evaluation method for each motion sickness prevention fragrance, the video may be taken from outside the vehicle from the rear seat of the vehicle.

  In the method for evaluating each of the above motion sickness prevention fragrances, the subject can be a child.

  In each of the above-described evaluation methods for motion sickness prevention fragrance, the medicine container can accommodate a member that emits an odor in the vehicle.

  According to the method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to the present invention, a perfume effective for motion sickness prevention can be accurately evaluated.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the evaluation equipment which implements the evaluation method which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This evaluation method is for evaluating a fragrance effective for stopping motion sickness.

<1. Evaluation equipment>
First, an evaluation facility for evaluating the motion sickness perfume according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of this evaluation equipment, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this evaluation facility includes a test space 1 for performing an evaluation. In this test space 1, a seat 2 on which a subject sits and a display device disposed in front of the seat 2. 3, a medicine container 4 in which a medicine containing a fragrance to be evaluated is housed, and an acquisition device 5 for acquiring physiological information of the subject are arranged. Hereinafter, each member will be described.

  The test space 1 includes a U-shaped wall body 11 including a pair of side walls 111 and a front wall 112 that connects the front end portions of the side walls 111, and a ceiling portion disposed on the top of the wall body 11. 12 and the test is performed in a space (for example, a space having a width of 1.5 m, a length of 3 m, and a height of 1.5 m) surrounded by the wall body 11 and the ceiling portion 12. The seat 2 is a seat for a subject, but is preferably a seat of a vehicle that is subject to motion sickness. Therefore, in general, a car seat or a seat imitating such a seat is used. The seat 2 is arranged, for example, at a position about 1.2 m away from the front wall 112 so that an image displayed on the display unit 31 to be described later can be seen.

  The display device 3 includes a display unit 31 installed on the front wall 112 and a control unit 32 for controlling the display unit 31. The display unit 31 is configured with a screen, a liquid crystal monitor, and the like, and displays an image obtained by photographing the outside of the vehicle from the seat of the vehicle. When a screen is used as the display unit 31, an image is projected from the projector onto the screen.

  The control unit 32 includes a personal computer and transmits video information to a projector or a liquid crystal monitor. The control unit 32 can store a large number of videos. Such an image is taken in advance from the seat of the car being driven, and various images can be prepared. For example, it can be an image obtained by photographing the front from a front seat or a rear seat of an automobile. In addition to this, an image obtained by photographing the side of the vehicle, or an image obtained by photographing the front and the side from the rear in the third row or in the case of a vehicle such as a one-box car may be used. In addition, it is possible to prepare a shooting location where the shooting location is appropriately changed, such as a driving in an urban area or a driving in a mountainous area. Hereinafter, these videos will be collectively referred to as a video outside the vehicle.

  The medicine container 4 houses a medicine containing a fragrance to be evaluated. The drug may be solid or liquid. The medicine container 4 includes a cylindrical vent pipe 41 extending from one side wall 111 to the seat 2 of the test space 1, and a medicine setting part 42 disposed on the outer side of the test space 1 on the side wall 111. Yes. The medicine installation unit 42 is configured by a box having a closed internal space, and a medicine containing a fragrance to be evaluated is arranged. For example, the medicine is accommodated in a medicine container and placed in the medicine setting unit 42. In addition, in the medicine installation section 42, an automobile odor generating material, for example, an automobile seat material, that is, an automobile interior material such as a surface cover, a cushion, or a panel can be arranged. Hereinafter, these are referred to as car odor generating materials.

  In addition, the above-described vent pipe 41 is connected to the medicine installation section 42 and communicates with the internal space of the medicine installation section 42. The vent pipe 41 extends from the drug installation section 42 to the vicinity of the seat 2 in the test space 1. That is, the position of the vent pipe 41 is adjusted so that the tip of the vent pipe 41 is arranged near the face of the subject sitting on the seat 2, for example, at a position about 10 to 15 cm away. Thereby, the odor of the medicine arranged in the medicine installation part 42 flows out to the vicinity of the subject's face through the ventilation pipe 41.

  In addition, a fan can be arranged in the vent pipe 41 or the medicine installation part 42, whereby the smell of the medicine can be forcibly sent to the distal end side of the vent pipe 41.

  Next, the acquisition device 5 will be described. The acquisition device 5 is for acquiring physiological information of a subject, and includes a sensor 51 attached to the body of the subject and a control unit 52 to which physiological information acquired from the sensor 51 is transmitted. . Various types of physiological information can be employed. For example, at least one of information based on an electrocardiogram, information based on skin conductance response, information based on respiration, etc. of the subject can be employed. And the sensor 51 mentioned above is for acquiring these physiological information. Hereinafter, acquisition of physiological information will be described.

(1) Electrocardiogram To obtain an electrocardiogram, a disposable electrode (for example, YELRODE SMP-300m manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.) is attached to the chest, and measurement is performed with a predetermined time constant using a 4-channel biological amplifier (Polyam4 manufactured by Nihon Santech) can do. As a specific method for acquiring physiological information, for example, the following method can be used.

  That is, the R wave is detected by applying an R wave enhancement filter to the electrocardiogram waveform, and the RR interval is obtained. Then, RR interval data for each beat is converted into a heart rate per minute to obtain an instantaneous heart rate (HR), and converted to equal time interval data for every 50 ms using cubic spline interpolation. A value obtained by applying a low-pass filter with a high-frequency cutoff frequency of 0.04 Hz is determined as a slow change in heart rate (HRmean). The heart rate variability index is obtained by calculating the amplitude spectrum from the spline interpolation waveform of the instantaneous heart rate by using FFT, a low frequency band component (HRV-LF) of 0.04 to 0.15 Hz, and an intermediate frequency band component of 0.08 to 0.15 Hz. (HRV-MF), quantifies the high frequency band component (HRV-HF) of 0.15-0.5 Hz. Further, the ECG waveform is obtained by applying a high-pass filter having a low cut-off frequency of 0.5 Hz and subtracting this from the original waveform as the ECG baseline fluctuation. Further, a band component equivalent to the heart rate variability and a 0.06 to 0.16 Hz component are obtained as tachygastna (TG) of the electrogastrogram.

(2) Skin conductance Skin conductance is obtained by attaching a disposable electrode (for example, PPS-EDAm Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.) to the finger of a non-dominant hand, and a skin conductance measuring device (for example, AP-U030m, manufactured by Nihon Santech). Measurement can be performed using an amplifier (for example, MaP1720CA manufactured by Nihon Santech). As a specific method for acquiring physiological information, for example, the following method can be used.

  Skin conductance level (SCL) is obtained by applying a low-pass filter having a high-frequency cutoff frequency of 0.04 Hz to skin conductance (SC) data. Then, the value obtained by subtracting SCL from SC is defined as skin conductance response (SCR), and the average value is obtained after taking the absolute value.

(3) Respiration For respiration, a respiration pickup (for example, 45360 m, manufactured by Nippon Santech Co., Ltd.) attached to the abdomen of the subject can be used as a sensor. This breathing pickup changes its electrical resistance by expanding and contracting as the circumference of the abdomen changes, and it is measured by connecting a portable amplifier (for example, manufactured by Polyam4-RESP Nihon Santech). It can be performed. As a specific method for acquiring physiological information, for example, the following method can be used.

  From the amplitude spectrum obtained by applying FFT to the respiration waveform, average respiration amplitude (Resp-all), low frequency component in the same band as heart rate variability, intermediate frequency band component (Resp-MF), center of gravity frequency (Resp-GF) The peak frequency (Resp-PF) is obtained, and the absolute value (Resp-Diff) of the difference between the center-of-gravity frequency and the peak frequency is obtained as a breathing instability index.

  The electrical information thus obtained by the sensor 51 is converted into a digital signal by an AD converter (not shown) and transmitted to the control unit 52 at a predetermined sampling frequency (for example, 1 kHz). The control unit 52 is configured by a personal computer or the like, receives the digital signal transmitted from the sensor 51, and stores this as physiological information. The control unit 52 also analyzes the stored physiological information.

<2. Evaluation method>
Next, a method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume using the above-described evaluation equipment will be described. First, the subject is guided to the test space 1 and is seated on the seat 2, and any one of the sensors 51 described above is attached to the body of the subject. Next, the medicine containing the fragrance to be evaluated is placed in the medicine installation unit 42 of the medicine container 4. And a fan is driven as needed and the volatilized chemical | medical agent is sent out in the test space 1 through the vent pipe 41. FIG. Further, if necessary, a vehicle odor generating material (such as a sponge inside the vehicle seat, a cover, and a musty odor emitted from an air conditioner) can be disposed in the medicine installation portion 42.

  Next, a video outside the vehicle is displayed on the display unit 31. At this time, the displayed image outside the vehicle can be changed depending on the subject. For example, when a child is a subject, it is preferable to show an image from the rear seat of the car as an image outside the vehicle.

  In this state, physiological information is acquired while showing a subject outside the vehicle video. In other words, a state in which the subject is in a car is reproduced by showing a video outside the vehicle to the subject. At this time, when the car odor generating material is disposed in the medicine container 4, this state can be reproduced with higher accuracy. And since the fragrance | flavor which volatilized flows out from the chemical | medical agent storage part 4 in the state which is in such a motor vehicle, a test subject experiences the state in which it is in a motor vehicle, smelling the smell. The time for performing the test is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, about 10 to 15 minutes.

  And the control part 52 of the acquisition apparatus 5 records the time-dependent change of the physiological information transmitted from the sensor 51 with which the test subject was mounted | worn.

  The above test is performed on a plurality of subjects and a plurality of fragrances. And the following evaluation is performed with respect to the result. Signs of motion sickness include HRmean rise, SCL rise, SCR increase, and mechanisms that reflect the above-mentioned sympathetic nervous system activation, but ECG baseline considered to reflect electrogastrogram and sweat gland activity It has been found that increased fluctuations and transient large respiratory contamination and increased respiratory instability (resp-MF increase, resp-diff increase) occur.

  Therefore, when motion sickness occurs, physiological information changes during the test. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is determined that the fragrance used when the change in the physiological information acquired during the test with time is small is effective in stopping motion sickness. For example, if the difference between the highest physiological information value from the start to the end of the test and the lowest physiological information value is small, it can be determined that the motion sickness is effective. There are various specific evaluation methods. However, when evaluating a single fragrance, for example, the same subject is tested together with a test in which the drug is not placed in the drug container 4, and the drug is added. If the change in physiological information is not recognized only when placed, it is determined that the fragrance of the medicine is effective in preventing motion sickness. Alternatively, when a test is performed on the same subject for a drug containing a plurality of fragrances, and there is a difference in changes in physiological information, the fragrance related to the test with a small difference is effective in preventing motion sickness. Judge that there is. And the precision of evaluation can be raised more by taking this into consideration the result from a some test subject. A plurality of subjects may be divided into a plurality of groups, and a test with a drug and without a drug may be performed, or a group with a drug and a group without a drug may be created and tested. Furthermore, if the experiment which changed the order of fragrance presentation to a plurality of subjects is performed and a statistical test is performed, the accuracy of evaluation can be further increased.

  In addition, for the subject, it is possible to make a determination in consideration of the degree of intoxication through a preliminary questionnaire. Furthermore, when testing with a plurality of subjects, a homogeneous group of subjects can be created based on a preliminary questionnaire.

<3. Features>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the evaluation is performed using physiological information when evaluating a fragrance effective for stopping motion sickness. Therefore, the fragrance can be evaluated regardless of the subjectivity of the subject. In particular, motion sickness has a large variation in feelings (subjectivity) between subjects, and when a child is a subject, the reliability of subjective evaluation may be low. Therefore, as in this embodiment, when the evaluation not based on the subjectivity is performed, the effect of the fragrance can be evaluated with high accuracy. In other words, although the physiological information values often change due to factors other than motion sickness, it is rare that the physiological information values do not change despite the occurrence of sickness, so this judgment method is appropriate.

<4. Modification>
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, A various change is possible unless it deviates from the meaning. The following modifications can be combined as appropriate.

<4-1>
The test space 1 is not limited to that of the above embodiment, and it is sufficient that at least the seat 2, the display device 3, the medicine container 4, and the acquisition device 5 are provided, and the test space 1 is not necessarily a closed space.

<4-2>
In the said embodiment, although the control parts 32 and 52 are provided separately in the display apparatus 3 and the acquisition apparatus 5, it can also control by the control part which supervises the whole evaluation installation. For example, it is possible to control all of the display device 3, the acquisition device 5, the fan of the medicine container 4, and the like with a single personal computer.

<4-3>
The configuration of the medicine container 4 is not particularly limited as long as the medicine is stored and the test subject can remove the perfume that has been volatilized. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a separate configuration such as the medicine installation portion 42 and the vent pipe 41, and all members can be arranged inside the wall body 11.

<4-4>
Various physiological information can be adopted. That is, the above-described electrocardiogram or the like is merely an example, and all physiological information that shows signs of motion sickness and can be acquired as an electrical signal is applicable.

<4-5>
In the above embodiment, physiological information is used as an evaluation. However, it is also possible to perform evaluation by combining subjective evaluation of a subject and combining evaluation with physiological information.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Test space 2 Seat 3 Display apparatus 4 Drug storage part 5 Acquisition apparatus

Claims (7)

Preparing a test space having a display device for displaying an image taken outside the vehicle seat from a vehicle seat, a medicine container for containing medicine containing a fragrance, and an acquisition device for obtaining physiological information of a subject;
While acquiring physiological information of the subject by the acquisition device, the video displayed on the display device is shown to the subject in the test space, and the smell of the medicine discharged from the medicine container is checked. The second step,
A third step of evaluating the fragrance from a change in the physiological information of the subject acquired by the acquisition device during the second step;
A method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume.   The method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to claim 1, wherein the second step is performed on a plurality of subjects. Further comprising the step of preparing a plurality of the drugs having different flavors;
Performing the first and second steps for each drug;
3. The method for evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to claim 1, wherein, in the third step, the evaluation of a drug having a small change in physiological information among the plurality of drugs is made high.   The evaluation of the perfumes for motion sickness according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the physiological information is at least one of information based on an electrocardiogram, information based on a skin conductance response, and information based on respiration of the subject. Method.   The evaluation method for a motion sickness perfume according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the video is taken outside the vehicle from a rear seat of the vehicle.   The method of evaluating a motion sickness perfume according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the subject is a child.   The evaluation method for a motion sickness perfume according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a member that emits an odor in the vehicle of the vehicle is accommodated in the medicine container.

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