Abstract: In order to provide a theoretical basis for the configuration of the modern urban greening plants, an open-field test was conducted as a reference to investigate the influence of oriental arborvitae foliage volatiles on the behavior of mice spontaneously. Effects of the foliage volatiles derived from 4 conifer species on the behavior of mice were analyzed and compared. The results were as follows: 1)The excitability of the mice was increased, their inquiry and cognitive ability was enhanced by the various volatiles' treatment. The mice were relatively relaxed and their appetite was not affected. There was a significant positive correlation between the spontaneous behavior indicators and leaf volatiles concentration. However, mice had some bearing threshold to the volatile odor released by Pinus bungeana, and the exicitability, exploration and cognitive ability of mice were inhibited when the volatile concentration exceeded the threshold. 2) The volatiles' efficiency varied among the 4 tree species and also concentration-dependent: The influence order at the high concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse total moving distance was Platycladus orientalis > Sabina chinensis cv. Kaizuka > Cedrus deodara >untreated control> P. bungeana. The influence order at the low concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse total moving distance was Pl. orientalis > P. bungeana > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara > untreated control. The influence order at the high concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse central grid distance was Pl. orientalis > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara >untreated control> P. bungeana. The influence order at the low concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse central grid distance was Pl. orientalis > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara > P. bungeana > untreated control. The four coniferous tree species had no effect on mice's appetite no matter the volatile concentration was high or low.

Key words: conifer species, VOCs, mouse, locomotor activity