– This is the first time brain research is being integrated into Swedish urban planning. We aim to provide decision-makers and urban planners with scientific support to integrate health considerations into their planning processes. Despite extensive research on the psychological and physiological effects of environments, there has been a lack of structured methods to identify and integrate knowledge about how the built environment affects the people who inhabit it, says Camilla Berggren-Tarrodi, Project Manager for Architecture and Urban Development at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.

Neuroarchitecture and Neurodesign Can Contribute to Public Health 

Research shows that urban environments affect stress levels, immune systems, cognition, and psychological wellbeing — yet this knowledge is rarely reflected in how cities are designed. The research field of neuroarchitecture and neurodesign combines neuroscience, AI, architecture, and design to create environments that benefit health and wellbeing. Studies demonstrate improved focus, reduced stress, and reduced inflammation levels, among other benefits. 

– We are exploring how to build cities that are not only functional but also promote mental health and sustainable quality of life. When neuroscience is integrated into urban planning, we take a step towards an entirely new standard for how future cities can be designed, says Camilla Berggren-Tarrodi.

Fridhemsplan, in Central Stockholm, Becomes a Test Bed 

The methodology will be tested in urban outdoor environments, starting with the city block Väktaren at Fridhemsplan. Fridhemsplan is a busy traffic junction in central Stockholm, characterised by its fast pace and numerous visual stimuli — an environment with several potential stress factors, but also great potential as a meeting place. The aim is to create a knowledge base that can be used broadly in future urban development. 

– We are facing a unique opportunity to create cities that are not only functional but actively strengthen people’s health and quality of life. By translating research into practice — with test beds in urban environments — we are taking a step towards future urban development, says Helena Ågren, Business Manager for Urban Development at Alecta Fastigheter.

The project employs neuroarchitectural principles that consider light, sound, scent, greenery, water, movement patterns, social interaction, and spatial form. It uses the NeuroDesign/NeuroArchitecture Index (NDIX), a research-based tool developed by researchers at RISE and University College London (UCL). 

NDIX enables measurement of how design choices affect the brain and health — from stress levels to cognitive recovery — and translates the results into practical recommendations. The index is built on advanced techniques, including fMRI, EEG, and biomarkers. The tool has previously been applied in urban development projects in London and in office spaces in Stockholm. 

– We conduct a site analysis and apply the index as a predictive model where we identify how different design choices affect performance, wellbeing, and mental recovery. In this way, we can provide recommendations that support planning processes when these sites are being redeveloped to promote health and wellbeing, says Isabelle Sjövall, Neuroscientist and Scientific Leader for Neurodesign and Cognitive Innovation at RISE.

Scientific Tools for the Future of Urban Planning 

The new index enables more accurate and better-informed decisions in urban planning and the development of built environments through data-driven and evidence-based decision support. 

Chronic exposure to poorly designed environments contributes to allostatic load — the biological wear and tear linked to long‑term stress — a factor associated with cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, and neurodegeneration. As cities around the world densify, the built environment becomes one of the most powerful long‑term exposures affecting both public health and economic productivity.

 – Design isn’t just about how places look — it affects how we think, feel, and function every day, says Cleo Valentine, co‑author and Senior Researcher and Innovation Lead at RISE. By bringing neuroscience into planning and design, we can create environments that truly support human potential.

The report introduces a brain lens framework

The report, co-authored by experts across multiple institutions, synthesises interdisciplinary findings from neuroscience, biomarker research, environmental psychology, and computational analysis. It shows that design decisions measurably influence cognitive load, stress physiology, and overall brain function—from regional planning to façade composition and interior layouts.

A key contribution of the report is the introduction of a “brain lens” framework, enabling developers, designers, and policymakers to evaluate projects not only in terms of cost or aesthetics, but also in terms of how they support cognitive wellbeing and human performance. This framework can be applied through neuro‑informed design guidelines, computational assessments, updated planning policies, and procurement processes that include brain‑health metrics.

The report highlights the role of research organisations contributing to the development of neuroarchitecture. It notes the Centre for NeuroArchitecture and NeuroDesign, jointly established by RISE and University College London, as part of a growing academic and applied research infrastructure. The centre is presented as an example of how neuroscience and design research are being linked to practical applications across different environments.

Call for real‑world validation studies

The report calls for scaling real-world validation studies, embedding brain-health metrics into building codes, developing standardised assessment frameworks, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration. 

The message is clear: advancing neuroarchitecture is not only a public health priority but also an economic one. With new tools, growing scientific consensus, and increasing international cooperation, the built environment can become a powerful pathway to healthier, more resilient societies.

> Read the full report from Building Brains Coalition.

Learn more about:
> RISE applications of neuroarchitecture and neurodesign in urban spaces
> Brain Economy and how brain health is a critical key resource in the modern economy.

"At its core, Brain Economy is about how we can change the global economy to boost people's brain power," says Australian physician Harris Eyre, who has been a driving force in developing the concept.

In early 2026, he presented the Brain Capital Index, which shows that the world's collective brain capital rose until 2010 — and has since begun to decline (see separate fact box).

People's behaviours, needs and emotions at the centre of urban development

Mental health is about giving people the opportunity to live according to their natural behaviours, needs and emotions in the offices, schools, healthcare facilities and city centres where they live and work.

This is where the global discussion about Brain Capital meets Swedish urban planning and built environment.

"For me, it's about designing for desired effect. It's a humanistic way of looking at it. How can we design schools for learning, hospitals for healing, workplaces for creativity, and parks for safety and relaxation?" says Marco Lucisano, Executive Director, Public Sector and International Relations at RISE.

This is, of course, not a new idea. Architects have always wanted to create environments that are beautiful, inclusive and functional.

But the possibilities for systematically measuring the effects have been limited.

"When people are asked how they experience an environment, their answers are always influenced by culture and norms. What is new is that we can now start to measure more directly. The combination of data technology and neuroscience makes it possible to see how the body and brain respond to a designed or built environment," says Marco Lucisano.

It is at the intersection of architecture and brain research that what is known as neuroarchitecture is emerging.

RISE is investing in measurement equipment and expertise to study how built environments affect the body, and is developing methods to integrate neuroscience into urban planning. In parallel, RISE collaborates with internationally leading institutions such as University College London, and runs projects with companies and property developers seeking to design environments with brain capital in mind.

Building knowledge about brain-smart environments

The research and its application are still at an early stage, and ongoing projects are helping to build knowledge about how brain-smart environments can be realised in practice.

There are no ready-made standard solutions yet.

At the same time, the economic rationale is already clear — and the theoretical reach is enormous.

"There are studies that show what poor quality costs. What does mental illness cost? What does it cost when young people don't thrive at school? That has already been quantified in monetary terms. It then becomes relevant to ask whether it might have been smarter to build better schools from the start," says Marco Lucisano.

This also implies a shift in how investments are valued.

"It may cost more initially. But if an environment reduces sick leave, improves learning or increases productivity over time, the calculation changes," says Marco Lucisano.

For private and public property developers, this is therefore not merely about "soft values", but also about long-term returns and risk reduction.

And ultimately about competitiveness: if environments affect learning, health and productivity, they also affect a country's economic capacity.

Brain capital: infrastructure as vital as roads, bridges and data centres

For Harris Eyre, it is fundamentally about how we value the brain.

"We must start treating brain capital as infrastructure — something that deserves as much attention and investment as roads, bridges and data centres," he says.

Eyre wants to see the Nordic countries — which he believes have a unique capacity to mobilise large public capital resources — step forward as pioneers within the Brain Economy.

"It must be a coordinated systems change. Just as with the climate transition, doing one thing is not enough — many things must happen simultaneously," he says.

Reversing the decline and building brain capital is both a public health and an economic imperative.

"When we dramatically improve how we prevent and treat brain-related conditions, we see an enormous effect on people's productivity. At the same time, the burden on health and social systems is reduced and business performance improves," says Marco Lucisano.