A Novel Protocol for the Quantification of Cardiovascular and Autonomic Responses to Urban Environments through Physiological Signals

Objective physiological measures like heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) can provide valuable insights into autonomic processes related to emotional responses. We present a novel protocol aimed at evaluating emotional responses to urban design choices via combined analysis of psychological and physiological data recorded during a guided walk throughout a urban environment. Statistically significant differences were found in the cardiovascular and autonomic responses of tested subjects across different points of interest along the route, suggesting that the evaluation of psychophysiological responses through analysis of cardiovascular signals can indeed offer insights into the perception of urban design implementations and how they ultimately promote well-being.