Living in cities can be stressful and be a detriment to people’s mental health, so neuro-urbanism needs to be understood. Living in urban areas such as cities can be nice. Many people from different backgrounds are having fun with each other in nightclubs and bars. People are swimming and sunbathing at the beaches. Festivals held in urban areas such as cities are always a delight, especially to tourists and travelers who travel to cities to enjoy the atmosphere. There are many diverse types of services available for anyone in urban areas. People can go to an Irish-themed pub to drink, then walk a few steps to an art museum to view the beautiful art pieces. However, studies show that there is a rise in mental illnesses in urban areas, especially in the younger generations. Neuro-urbanism is an interdisciplinary field of study relevant to urban planners and mental health professionals, as it explores how urban environments affect human brain function, emotions, and mental well-being. Neuro-urbanism combines insights from neuroscience, mental health, urban planning, and architecture to create cities that promote mental health.
According to a research study, ‘Neurourbanism: towards a new discipline,’ Neuro-urbanism has five pillars of discipline, which are Epidemiology, Basic Research, Experimental urban stress research and emotional mapping, Urban prevention and therapy research, Exploitation of results and advisory function.
According to an empirical study,’ NeuroUrbanism: Measurement of the Street Enclosure and its Influence on Human Physiology Through Wearable Sensors‘, they experimented to analyse and relate human neurophysiological response defining experience at street intersections. 15 participants participated in the experiment, between 19 and 28 years old. There are three goals for this experiment, which are the following:
- Identify and evaluate factors that physically impact the level of obstruction in street-level spaces.
- Investigate the variations in heart rates in response to changes in the built environment.
- Investigate the relationship between perceived comfort and neurophysiological reactions.
They discovered that higher heart rates are related to negative emotions such as stress and discomfort. In contrast, low heart rates indicate that people are relaxed.
In many studies relating mental health, neuro-urbanism and urban planning, there is a connection between mental health and the environment. Green spaces, such as forests, parks and reserves, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, can improve people’s mental health. The experiment reveals that traffic noises cause stress and mental fatigue to the participants, as indicated by the high heart rate observed. At the same time, higher enclosures with tree canopies cover the view of the sky. Despite the canopies blocking the view, the leaves are not fully opaque, and light can filter into the street, creating a visually comfortable environment for participants. This experiment is fascinating, not to mention very cool, as they use sensory technology and biology as a basis to reveal some vital information. The experiment was very detailed.
A research paper, ‘Re-Imaging the Future in Urban Studies and Built Environment Discourse: A Neurourbanism Perspective‘, goes through a deep dive into the emerging field of neuro-urbanism. This study integrates neuroscience with urban studies and the built environment. The study also examines the intellectual structure of neuro-urbanism, identifies key influencers and emerging themes, and highlights gaps in current research. Findings indicate diverse explanations for risk factors associated with urban living, particularly concerning the prevalence and causes of psychosis. This is the theoretical framework of neuro-urbanism, with urban planning and public health participating.
This framework can be helpful to urban planners and public health practitioners as it can help improve people’s well-being in cities and destinations worldwide. This framework is very clear to read. Moreover, if information like this can be considered in planning processes, tourists, travellers, and residents can have a stable life, and their mental health will not decay. Tourists can go to their chosen destinations and, hopefully, won’t experience mental fatigue and stress when enjoying their vacations.
This publication suggests that construction and urban planning professionals have yet to fully understand how the built environment affects mental health, stress levels, and the well-being of city residents. Additionally, countries experiencing rapid urbanisation are not leading in neuro-urbanism research, as it is a relatively new field compared to others. Luckily, there is evidence that people are researching neuro-urbanism.
This experiment also aligns with another research paper, “How Do Urban Environments Affect Young People’s Mental Health? A Novel Conceptual Framework to Bridge Public Health, Planning, and Neuro Urbanism’. Based on this paper, natural environments (like places with plans, forests, lakes, natural reserves, etc.) are essential in enhancing young people’s health since they can improve mental well-being and reduce health risks. Green spaces with dense tree cover help lower air pollution, decrease symptoms of depression and address behavioural issues. Urban planning significantly impacts teenagers’ mental health, as it is closely linked to social determinants of health, mainly through land use, which influences design, density, diversity, and accessibility. Accessible green spaces promote social development, while improved street networks help reduce psychological distress. Additionally, substantial greenery can minimise noise pollution, and mixed land use enhances access to services and facilities, encouraging physical activity and overall well-being.
This information can be handy for neuro-urbanism because neuro-urbanism is a multidisciplinary field. It is also helpful for urban planners as it provides information they can use in their plans, policies and projects. If a piece of information is integrated into city plans, residents, travelers, and tourists can experience a relaxed environment in their chosen destinations. They can go to the hectic nightlife in urban destinations and then retreat to a green space to feel calm. Also, according to a study,’ Adventure-based mindsets helped maintain psychological well-being during COVID-19′, people going on adventure-like activities can also help with their well-being, so people in the tourism industry and urban planners should consider that.
The same study (How Do Urban Environments Affect Young People’s Mental Health? A Novel Conceptual Framework to Bridge Public Health, Planning, and Neuro Urbanism) has proposed a research and practical framework for mental health and urban environments, with planning, public and neuro-urbanism as key factors:
These frameworks, while aimed at young people, can also help people of all ages since they are so detailed. People of the older generation can feel relaxed when in natural enclosures, have their social circles, and have social media like Facebook and Instagram. Also, like young people, urban environments can impact them in many ways. Also, the word’ individual’ doesn’t have to be an adolescent in those frameworks.
These frameworks help urban planners, public health practitioners, and people in between these fields understand the importance of neuro-urbanism and its impacts on people’s well-being. The practitioner framework can help urban planners implement and turn their work into reality. Moreover, the research framework can help researchers involve their chosen topics and neuro-urbanism. This would benefit urban planners, people in the medical field, residents living in urban areas, and tourists visiting urban destinations.
Neuro-urbanism is a multidisciplinary field that combines various disciplines, from urban planning to neuroscience, mental health, and architecture. Neuro-urbanism can discover information relating to how urban environments affect human brain function, emotions, and mental well-being. As a relatively new field of study, learning can be fascinating. It’s like you discovered a new path to explore, like an adventurer or tourist. This can be useful to urban planners to help residents and tourists alike feel better mentally when living or exploring urban destinations. Hopefully, more people will know that this field exists, and more information can be found.
Author:
Xiuwei Zhang
Urban Planner for Tourist Destination intern
University of Auckland, Auckland, NZ
Mentor:
Marija Lazarevic, MSc
CEO at MariXperience ltd.