Architecture as Biological Exposure - Neurophysiological Pathways Linking Form and Health

EDRA Webinar | April 8, 2026

Architecture as Biological Exposure: Neurophysiological Pathways Linking Form and Health

Architecture is often discussed in terms of aesthetics, function, or cultural meaning. Yet buildings are also long-term biological exposures that continuously interact with the human nervous system. This lecture introduces the emerging field of architectural neuroimmunology, which investigates how architectural form and environmental stimuli influence neurophysiological stress regulation and downstream immune processes. Drawing on recent experimental, computational, and theoretical work, the talk examines how features such as visual complexity, composition and perceptual load shape neural and autonomic responses. Methods including computational visual analysis and physiological measurement (e.g., EEG, HRV, and fNIRS) are used to identify architectural conditions associated with increased or reduced physiological stress. The lecture argues that architectural environments can contribute to cumulative regulatory strain, conceptualized as architecturally mediated allostatic overload. Understanding these mechanisms has implications for design practice, public health, and the development of evidence-informed building standards that better support long-term human wellbeing.

    Speaker
Cleo Valentine, Sr. Design Researcher, Neuro ‑ Architecture  Associate

Moderator
Sally Augustin, PhD, MBA
Principal, Design With Science

Duration
1 hr