The Impact of a Multi-Level Biophilic Environment on Sensory Immersion and Cognitive Restoration in Arboretum Visitors

This study assesses the impact of a multi-level biophilic arboretum environment on the depth of sensory immersion and indicators of cognitive restoration (attention concentration, mental fatigue) in visitors. The main hypothesis is that a multi-level organization of the environment, imitating the complexity of natural landscapes, statistically significantly enhances sensory immersion and promotes cognitive restoration more than a single-level environment. The theoretical foundation comprises Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT), supplemented by neuroscientific and evolutionary psychological perspectives. A within-subjects design is proposed, in which the same group of subjects visits both a multi-level arboretum and a flat garden in random order. Cognitive functions are assessed using the Stroop Test, DSST, and SART; sensory immersion is measured via questionnaires; physiological indicators include heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and EEG. The study contributes to the scientific substantiation of neuroarchitecture and biophilic design, emphasizing the importance of structurally complex organization of nature in interiors.