Bridging Space Perception, Emotions, and Artificial Intelligence in Neuroarchitecture

In the last decade, the interdisciplinary field of neuroarchitecture has grown significantly, revealing measurable links between architectural features and human neural processing. This review synthesizes current research at the nexus of neuroscience and architecture, with a focus on how emerging virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being utilized to understand and enhance human spatial experience. We systematically reviewed literature from 2015 to 2025, identifying key empirical studies and categorizing advances into three themes: core components of neuroarchitectural research; the use of physiological sensors (e.g., EEG, heart rate variability) and virtual reality to gather data on occupant responses; and the integration of neuroscience with AI-driven analysis. Findings indicate that built environment elements (e.g., geometry, curvature, lighting) influence brain activity in regions governing emotion, stress, and cognition. VR-based experiments combined with neuroimaging and physiological measures enable ecologically valid, fine-grained analysis of these effects, while AI techniques facilitate real-time emotion recognition and large-scale pattern discovery, bridging design features with occupant emotional responses. However, the current evidence base remains nascent, limited by small, homogeneous samples and fragmented data. We propose a four-domain framework (somatic, psychological, emotional, cognitive-“SPEC”) to guide future research. By consolidating methodological advances in VR experimentation, physiological sensing, and AI-based analytics, this review provides an integrative roadmap for replicable and scalable neuroarchitectural studies. Intensified interdisciplinary efforts leveraging AI and VR are needed to build robust, diverse datasets and develop neuro-informed design tools. Such progress will pave the way for evidence-based design practices that promote human well-being and cognitive health in built environments.