Building Minds: How Architecture Shapes Our Lives and Well-Being

In this episode of Science Savvy, we step into the fascinating world of architecture and design to explore how the spaces we inhabit influence our minds, health, and emotions. Joined by Antonio, a talented architect, we discuss everything from what makes a house feel like a home to the emerging field of neuroarchitecture, which blends design with our understanding of the brain.

Discover how natural light, biomimicry, and even the materials we touch can impact our mental health, productivity, and sense of community. Learn why humans are drawn to beauty, the psychology of shared spaces, and how design reflects our evolving values. Whether you’re an architecture aficionado or a curious mind, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the buildings and cities that shape our lives.

Tune in to uncover how thoughtful design can help you build not just better spaces, but a better life.
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Further reading / references:

Jeremy Bentham: The Panopticon concept.

Kaplan, R. & Kaplan, S. (1993). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective - Discusses the impact of natural environments on mental health and productivity.

Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting with Nature. Psychological Science, 19(12), 1207–1212.

Galima, S. V., Vogel, S. R., & Kowalski, A. W. (2020). Seasonal affective disorder: Common questions and answers. American Family Physician, 102(11), 668–672. PMID: 33252911.

Pjrek, E., Friedrich, M. E., Cambioli, L., Dold, M., Jäger, F., Komorowski, A., Lanzenberger, R., Kasper, S., & Winkler, D. (2020). The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 89(1), 17–24. https://doi.org/10.1159/000502891

Tao, L., Jiang, R., Zhang, K., Qian, Z., Chen, P., Lv, Y., & Yao, Y. (2020). Light therapy in non-seasonal depression: An update meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research, 291, 113247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113247

Nussbaumer, B., Kaminski-Hartenthaler, A., Forneris, C. A., Morgan, L. C., Sonis, J. H., Gaynes, B. N., Greenblatt, A., Wipplinger, J., Lux, L. J., Winkler, D., Van Noord, M. G., Hofmann, J., & Gartlehner, G. (2015). Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11), CD011269. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011269.pub2

Do, A., Li, V. W., Huang, S., Michalak, E. E., Tam, E. M., Chakrabarty, T., Yatham, L. N., & Lam, R. W. (2022). Blue-light therapy for seasonal and non-seasonal depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 67(10), 745–754. https://doi.org/10.1177/07067437221097903

Rolls, E. T. (2015). Limbic systems for emotion and for memory, but no single limbic system. Cortex, 62, 119–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2013.12.005

Mori, K., & Sakano, H. (2024). Circuit formation and sensory perception in the mouse olfactory system. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 18, Article 1342576. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2024.1342576

Mills, E. G. A., O'Byrne, K. T., & Comninos, A. N. (2019). Kisspeptin as a behavioral hormone. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 37(2), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0039-3400239

Gaeta, G., & Wilson, D. A. (2022). Reciprocal relationships between sleep and smell. Frontiers in Neural Circuits, 16, Article 1076354. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2022.1076354

Shahsavar, P., Ghazvineh, S., & Raoufy, M. R. (2024). From nasal respiration to brain dynamic. Reviews in Neuroscience, 35(6), 639–650. https://doi.org/10.1515/revneuro-2023-0152