Architectural Properties' Impact on Stress and Cognition: Methodologies, Tools, and Preliminary Insights

This conference paper presents an examination of the methodologies and tools used in an ongoing study investigating the influence of architectural design on stress and cognitive performance. Focused on confined and isolated environments like analogue space stations, the paper discusses the challenges and efficacy of the selected research methods. Central to the study are parameters such as participants' location, activities, cognitive performance, and stress levels, alongside identified confounding factors. The paper highlights how these elements are intricately linked to architectural features, offering insights into how physical spaces impact mental well-being and cognitive function. A section of the paper is devoted to data collection methodologies. It describes the tools employed, like wearable stress monitors and cognitive performance assessments, providing examples of collected data to showcase their effectiveness. This section not only illustrates the data gathering process but also underscores the practical challenges encountered in implementing these technologies in isolated and extreme environments. Additionally, the paper delves into the data analysis techniques used to interpret the information gathered. These methodologies are crucial for distilling meaningful insights from complex datasets, enabling a deeper understanding of how architectural design influences human psychology and cognition. Preliminary results from the ground studies and small insights from the space implementation of the experiment are presented. Within results presented are effects of architectural settings on reaction time, working memory and executive function,. with the primary influencing factor being privacy, and exposure to exterior views as a secondary factor. Lastly, results on stress levels, as correlated to location in the base, through continuous measurements are presented.