Space
Through this project we are tracking the cognitive states and associated physiological factors of individuals as they perform activities in both urban and natural environments. A better understanding of how various environments directly impact mental well-being could provide support for policies and infrastructure that increase opportunities for routine outdoor experiences.
The videos below show the change in mental states as an individual moves from urban/built environments to a trail or greenway with more natural elements.
Riverwalk Bike.mp4TrailRun.mp4The biking video (left), illustrates the increase in meditative state (green) and motivation (orange) and related decrease in anxiety (yellow) as the cyclist moves from urban pavement to a protected greenway along the river.
The trail running video (right) presents similar results. As the runner begins to enter an urban area, their meditative state decreases while anxiety and focus both increase.