Post by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Setting a new world standard for designing built environments that support human health – A groundbreaking index in the emerging field of neurodesign and neuroarchitecture could transform the way we plan and invest in our cities, schools, and workplaces. Drawing on brain science and AI, researchers can now measure how spaces and places influence our health, cognition, and overall wellbeing – with the ambition to set a new global standard for the built environments of tomorrow. – We know that our surroundings profoundly impact quality of life and mental health. The challenge has been the lack of reliable methods to measure these effects, says Isabelle Sjövall, Brain researcher, Neurodesigner and Director of Neuroarchitecture and Neurodesign at RISE. The NeuroDesign/NeuroArchitecture Index (NDIX) is a research-based tool that evaluates and measures how different environments impact health, performance, and wellbeing – from schools and offices to hospitals and entire cities. Grounded in neuroscience and psychology, it considers factors such as light, sound, materials, colours, forms, and temperature, which influence the brain. The methodology employs advanced techniques like fMRI, EEG, and biomarkers like heart rate variability to map how environments affect us. The index is structured across six scientifically grounded domains: safety and accessibility, cognitive, sensory, emotional, social, and naturalness. – Think of the index as a health check-up for environments. We start with a baseline analysis to identify how different elements impact performance, wellbeing, and mental recovery. For instance, a higher index score could translate into calmer students who learn more effectively in a school setting,” Isabelle explains. The research is conducted in collaboration with the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences, Institute of Behavioural Neuroscience at University College London (UCL) and RISE, through the International Centre for NeuroArchitecture and NeuroDesign. Pilot projects are already underway in Stockholm and London, ranging from green infrastructure to healthcare, education, and workplace design. The team behind the work is: Isabelle Sjövall, from RISE and UCL, and Fiona Zisch, from The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL and Hugo Spiers, UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences. >> Learn more about The NeuroDesign/NeuroArchitecture Index (NDIX): https://lnkd.in/dWeBui5y >> Would you like to learn more about neuroarchitecture and neurodesign – and how your organisation can benefit from it? Contact RISE: https://lnkd.in/d8FN6_wN Anjan Chatterjee Esther Sternberg M.D. #SimoneKühn Nick Tyler CBE FREng Essi Viding Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg Raul Carlson Harris Eyre John Kounios OSI London - Office of Science and Innovation Embassy of Sweden in the United Kingdom Vinnova Folkhälsomyndigheten Boverket #NeuroDesign #NeuroArchitecture #MentalHealth #CognitivePerformance #BuiltEnvironment #Neurodesign #NeuroArchitecture #BrainCapital #BrainEconomy