Excepts from Forbes.com article, written by: Ximena Araya-Fischel
It turns out your mind isn’t only shaped by your thoughts. It’s shaped by your surroundings, too. And increasingly, science suggests that the more natural those surroundings are, the better your brain performs.
Welcome to the era of biophilic design—an architectural and psychological movement that is subtly, yet powerfully, reshaping how we work, live, feel and experience the surrounding world. Rooted in the ancient human affinity for nature, biophilic design integrates elements like natural light, organic materials, and greenery into our built environments. The results aren't just aesthetic. They're neurological.
A Measurable Brain Shift
The average person now spends more than 90% of their time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. With rising concerns about digital burnout, mental health and decision fatigue, the built environment can no longer be neutral. It must support and elevate human function at the level of the nervous system.
Emerging brain imaging studies have further validated these effects. One 2023 functional MRI study revealed that individuals exposed to nature showed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for executive decision-making and emotional regulation. The takeaway? Biophilic inputs can measurably shift brain function in real time, promoting states of clarity, calm and control.
Why The Brain Responds To Biophilic Cues
Our brains evolved in environments teeming with natural stimuli—rustling leaves, flowing water, dappled light. These stimuli activate the parasympathetic nervous system, signaling safety and allowing the body to downshift into a state of restoration. Urban environments, by contrast, often overload the brain's stress circuits with noise, artificial lighting and architectural monotony.
Just as we shape our environments, our environments shape us. This dynamic is made possible by the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, the ability to rewire itself by forming new neural connections in response to experience.
In other words, our brains are not fixed—they're adaptive, continuously shaped by the inputs they receive. And with the right biophilic signals, we can intentionally design spaces that shift our baseline from overstimulated to attuned.
Designing For a Neuroplastic Future
Biophilic design is a pivotal strategy for neuroplastic living. When your environment regularly activates the brain's relaxation and reward centers, it builds new pathways for calm, focus and resilience. In essence, the space around you begins to change the space within you.
““Biophilic design is a pivotal strategy for neuroplastic living.””
We now know that environments that repeatedly evoke a state of calm and attentiveness can prime the brain for long-term shifts in perception, emotion and behavior. This is where design becomes not only functional but transformative. A thoughtfully designed room with living plants can lower blood pressure, extend attention span and even reshape the way we interact with others.
As we reimagine the future of work and wellness, one truth is becoming clear: nature never stopped being our most marvelous designer. We just forgot how to listen.
Full Article at: Forbes.com