An Exploratory Neuroarchitecture Study: Emotional Responses to Residential Spaces Using Psychological and Physiological Indicators

Abstract

This study explores the emotional impact of residential architecture through the combined use of psychological and physiological measures. A neuroarchitecture field experiment was conducted in a real, fully equipped dwelling with a sample of 30 participants. The participants walked through the various rooms in the dwelling under both daytime and nighttime conditions. Emotional responses were assessed using the PAD model (pleasure, arousal, dominance), and physiological signals, electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA). Statistically significant differences were found across rooms, time of day and gender. Collective areas—such as the living room and entrance forecourt—were associated with higher levels of pleasure and dominance and lower physiological activation, while individual spaces—such as bedrooms and bathrooms—elicited higher physiological activity and lower psychological emotional responses, particularly among female participants. An inverse relationship was found between pleasure/dominance and physiological activation, suggesting that physiological indicators could serve as non-intrusive proxies for subjective well-being. Nighttime exposure was also linked to increased arousal, likely due to circadian disruption caused by artificial lighting. These findings underscore the importance of integrating objective and subjective measures in architectural evaluations, as they offer actionable insights for the design of emotionally supportive residential environments. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.