Introduction This study selected Xiangmiao Village, Xiaoqiyuan Village, and Xiedian Ancient Village in the mountainous area of northeastern Hubei as representative samples, aiming to reveal the commonalities and differences in the emotional generation of traditional village landscapes within the region through systematic comparison. Methods By using TGAM portable EEG devices to collect electroencephalogram signals from 50 participants while they observed standardized VR panoramic images, the study quantified their emotional arousal and valence and established an observation index system integrating three dimensions: material elements, spatial perception, and cultural cognition. With the aid of the VIKOR-GRA model and obstacle diagnosis model, key factors affecting emotional quality and their interactions were identified. Results The study found that the formation of emotions toward traditional village landscapes follows a “material-space-culture” three-stage progressive mechanism and further identified multiple key thresholds affecting emotional benefits. The emotional obstacles in the three villages also exhibited certain differences. Based on these findings, synergistic optimization strategies were proposed. Discussion It should be noted that all samples in this study were sourced from the mountainous area of northeastern Hubei, which shares homogeneity in geographic proximity, climatic conditions, and mountainous topography. The three villages, respectively, represent three typical spatial forms in this mountainous environment. Therefore, the conclusions are primarily applicable to traditional villages with similar mountainous topography and cultural backgrounds. Their generalizability to other topographic types such as plains or waterfront areas remains to be verified through subsequent cross-regional studies.
Li et al. (Wed,) studied this question.