Application of electroencephalographic techniques to the study of visual impact of renewable energies

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 200; pp. 484 - 489
• Main Authors: Grima Murcia, M.D., Sánchez Ferrer, Francisco, Sorinas, Jennifer, Ferrandez, J.M., Fernandez, Eduardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 15.09.2017
• Subjects: EEG; Electroencephalography; Environmental studies; Human emotions; Humans; Landscape studies; Power Plants; Renewable energies; Renewable Energy; Visual impact; Visual Perception; Wind; Environmental studies; Renewable energies; Landscape studies; Visual impact; Human emotions; EEG
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.05.096

Much is currently being studied on the negative visual impact associated to the installation of large wind turbines or photovoltaic farms. However, methodologies for quantitatively assessing landscape impact are scarce. In this work we used electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings to investigate the brain activity of 14 human volunteers when looking at the same landscapes with and without wind turbines, solar panels and nuclear power plants. Our results showed no significant differences for landscapes with solar power systems or without them, and the same happened for wind turbines, what was in agreement with their subjective scores. However, there were clear and significant differences when looking at landscapes with and without nuclear power plants. These differences were more pronounced around a time window of 376–407 msec and showed a clear right lateralization for the pictures containing nuclear power plants. Although more studies are still needed, these results suggest that EEG recordings can be a useful procedure for measuring visual impact. •There is no initial visual impact with renewable or non-renewable.•The EEG can help us understand brain processes landscapes related to visual impact.•We confirmed brain rejection of nuclear power plant vision.•The EEG can be presented as a method of environmental impact assessment.