The Cognitive-Emotional Design and Study of Architectural Space: A Scoping Review of Neuroarchitecture and Its Precursor Approaches

Humans respond cognitively and emotionally to the built environment. The modern possibility of recording the neural activity of subjects during exposure to environmental situations, using neuroscientific techniques and virtual reality, provides a promising framework for future design and studies of the built environment. The discipline derived is termed neuroarchitecture. Given neuroarchitecture's transdisciplinary nature, it progresses needs to be reviewed in a contextualised way, together with its precursor approaches. The present article presents a scoping review, which maps out the broad areas on which the new discipline is based. The limitations, controversies, benefits, impact on the professional sectors involved, and potential of neuroarchitecture and its precursors' approaches are critically addressed.

Automated summary

Neuroarchitecture, a discipline that explores the cognitive and emotional responses to the built environment, offers promising potential for future design and research by recording neural activity during exposure to environmental situations. This interdisciplinary field requires a contextualized review to assess its progress and precursor approaches in order to address limitations, controversies, and benefits, as well as the impact on professional sectors.