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As vital natural elements in cities, trees play a significant role in promoting public health. Previous studies have recognized that there exist optimal ranges of tree cover density in urban environments; however, the relationship between tree cover density and urban density has received little attention. This study employs an immersive virtual reality simulation and integrates neuroscientific measures with traditional questionnaires to demonstrate that both the perception of tree cover density and its restorative effects are influenced by the surrounding level of urban density. The findings indicate that oppressiveness satisfaction—a subjective manifestation of urban density—moderates the relationship between perceived tree density and its restorative effects. The optimal range of tree cover density varies across different levels of urban density. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data show that when tree cover density is aligned with the surrounding urban density background, activation in the left frontal pole increases significantly. This alignment enhances people’s willingness to stay in the space and promotes more positive emotional experiences. In low-density neighborhood blocks, medium tree cover density is most effective. In high-density neighborhood blocks, high tree cover density is best. The study suggests that strategies for tree placement should be tailored to the density of urban spaces. Our findings also demonstrate the potential and value of enhancing urban environmental quality by improving people’s spatial perception.
Xu et al. (Thu,) studied this question.