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4 features of enriched environments we should include in every design

In this video:

Meredith Banasiak

Meredith Banasiak brings experience in science-informed design across research, practice, and academia. Meredith is Director of Research for BA/Science, a research and innovation group under Boulder Associates. In this role, she conducts real-world research with health systems and design teams to support data-driven, person-centered design.

Meredith serves on the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) Board of Directors. She is featured in the 2020 documentary, “Built Beautiful: An Architecture and Neuroscience Love Story” narrated by Martha Stewart, and has published in psychology, clinical, and design research journals and books. Her current passion project is producing the Science + Design podcast.

A collaboration between ‪Science + Design‬ and ‪The CCD‬ , this video introduces the concept of Enriched Environments which, in neuroscience studies have shown promise for brain function and health. Designers will learn four key features of enriched environments.

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Learning outcomes
· Describe neuroscience studies on enriched environments which led to the discovery of neurogenesis
· Identify benefits of enriched environments
· List features of enriched environments
· Advocate for designing all spaces as enriched environments

Credits
Stock Music provided by Kinone / Pond5
Media by: Hefrson / Pond5 . Coverr-Free-Footage / Pixabay . harabe 1001 / Pexels . Amorn Chumnit / Pixabay . Jamaal Cooks on Unsplash . Jared Rice on Unsplash . MART PRODUCTION / Pexels . andreha / Pond5 . Ahsan Ashraf / Pixabay . May on Unsplash . thiago rizardi / Pexels . Annemarie Horne on Unsplash . Primitive Building Life / Pixabay . Robertt / Pexels . Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash . cottonbro studio / Pexels . Pressmaster / Pexels . KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA / Pexels . Amorn Chumnit / Pixabay . Los Muertos Crew / Pexels . joyce huis on Unsplash.
Thumbnail: MART PRODUCTION / Pexels

References

Hebb, D. (1947). The Effects of Early Experience on Problem-Solving at Maturity. American Psychologist, 2, 306–307.

Van Praag, H., Kempermann, G. & Gage, F. (2000). Neural Consequences of environmental enrichment. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 1(3):191-198.

Mandolesi, L., Gelfo, F., Serra, L., Montuori, S., Polverino, A., Curcio, G., & Sorrentino, G. (2017). Environmental Factors Promoting Neural Plasticity: Insights from Animal and Human Studies. Neural plasticity,  7219461.

Clemenson, G., Gage, F & Stark, C. (2018). “Environmental Enrichment and Neuronal Plasticity” in The Oxford Handbook of Developmental Neural Plasticity, Chao, M., ed. Oxford University Press.

Jeffers, M. & Corbett, D. (2018). Synergistic Effects of Enriched Environment and Task-Specific Reach Training on Poststroke Recovery of Motor Function. Stroke, 49(6), 1496–1503.

McDonald, M. W., Hayward, K. S., Rosbergen, I. C. M., Jeffers, M. S., & Corbett, D. (2018). Is Environmental Enrichment Ready for Clinical Application in Human Post-stroke Rehabilitation? Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience, 12, 135.

Bourdon, E. & Belmin, J. (2021). Enriched gardens improve cognition and independence of nursing home residents with dementia: a pilot controlled trial. Alzheimer’s research & therapy, 13(1), 116.

Keywords
architecture, design, neuroscience, science+design, Neuroarchitecture, Science-informed Design, microlearning, interior design, design education, architecture student, enriched environments, brain health, neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, stroke, aging, sensory stimulation, sensory garden, dementia, donald hebb, alzheimer’s

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