The crucial role of neuroarchitecture in design and human health
Neuroarchitecture is the study of how the built environment directly affects the nervous system, cognitive processes, and emotional well-being of humans. Combining neuroscience and architecture, it explores how design can significantly influence human neurological and psychological processes.
Over the past two years, research in this area has become a key part of spatial design, revealing how elements such as natural light and colour combinations can directly impact cognitive function, emotional well-being, and spatial orientation.
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One sense
A study published by the National Library of Medicine, titled 'How the Perception of Our Environments Impacts the Brain', reveals that the fields of biology and neuroscience are exploring the interaction between architecture and the human mind through conscious brain functions.
The brain adapts to the visual perception of the environment through various processes, generating a wave of activity. "When light strikes the retina of the eye, it generates a message. The nerve fibres in each eye carry this message, which crosses at the optic chiasm and reaches the brain via the optic nerve”.
The brain processes this image and can establish a series of sensations that override the initial visual information if it deems it improbable. Consequently, the study suggests that the human brain has the capacity to perceive and understand its environment, even when receiving incomplete or ambiguous information.
Therefore, architectural designs primarily focus on the sense of sight.
Canadian designer Bruce Mau states: 'We have allowed two of our senses, sight and hearing, to dominate our imagination in design. In fact, in the world of architecture and design, we create and produce almost exclusively for one sense: vision.'
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Benefits
By examining those key brain functions, researchers aim to demonstrate how architecture can be an integral part of mental and emotional health.
According to experts at NeuronaLab, a home built without considering the specific needs of the family residing in it can make its members ill: poor lighting, for example, can cause stress and affect sleep.
Furthermore, historical references dating back to 18th-century French architectural theorists have highlighted the idea that architecture can connect with individuals' minds and souls.
Studies have shown that spaces designed according to neuroarchitectural principles have been shown to have significant benefits, such as faster recovery in hospitals, reduced absenteeism in offices, and enhanced memory retention in schools.
The recognition that emotions are essential for decision-making, reasoning and human existence, and that environmental factors influence empathy, demands significant changes in education and environmental design.
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