Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

‍

INTEGRAL TO THE SUCCESS of any designed space is the community that is nurtured in and around it. Occupant quality of life is the end goal of today’s indoor environments. Gone are the days of purely functional spaces, walls, and doors built to the lowest common denominators, with no consideration for aesthetics, materials - other than on a cost basis - acoustics, design harmony, art, lighting, and all the other elements that make a space something desirable, not just survivable. All these factors contribute to positive responses in the built environment.

‍

For an individual to maintain a stable internal environment and overall health and well-being, their sympathetic and parasympathetic response systems should be in balance. This balance, homeostasis, is achieved with a ratio of 15% survival (fight or flight) and 85% pleasure (rest and digest) responses.

‍

In essence, humans react to the world around them through their nervous systems. The autonomic nervous system has two distinctive types of responses to exterior stimuli:

‍

•Sympathetic Response (a.k.a Fight or Flight or Freeze) which evolved for survival.

‍

•Parasympathetic Response (a.k.a Rest and Digest) which evolved for seeking pleasure.

‍

While fight or flight mode increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, diverting blood flow to vital organs and muscles for immediate action for survival, the rest and digest mode slows down heart rate, reduces blood pressure, and diverts blood to digestive organs for a more relaxed, pleasurable state.

‍

Given today’s fast-paced lifestyle, people often find themselves in high-stress fight or flight mode. To counteract this, the built environment needs to be both restorative and inclusive. Mindfully designed spaces should amplify the rest and digest mode as well as psychological sustainability, while at the same time accommodating high-density occupancy. Neuroarchitecture and biophilic design are two important tools for designers to achieve all these without prioritizing one over another. Studies conducted by dozens of universities over the past 20 years arrive at the same conclusion: being in the presence of nature or using natural elements in a designed space (biophilic design principles) helps occupants achieve this relaxed, pleasurable state.

‍

Specifically, natural environments slow heart rates and reduce blood pressure. Use of natural elements in designed spaces has been proven to offer increased oxytocin levels (leading to a greater sense of connection to the environment, peers, and oneself), reduced cortisol levels (thus reducing stress), and increased serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins (also known as ‘happiness hormones’ associated with pleasure, motivation, reward, and well-being).

‍

Art installations depicting nature have also been proven to offer the same effects by offering an aesthetic experience.

‍

Therefore, spaces optimally designed with biophilia and neuroarchitecture principles provide the sensory stimuli to heal faster, feel better, increase health and well-being, and boost productivity.

‍