Invited by Dr. Kimon Krenz from University College London, Dr.-Ing. Lanqing Gu from UDP delivered a presentation at the UCL Space Syntax Lab Seminars, introducing recent work published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. The study was conducted in collaboration with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University of Amsterdam, and explores the relationship between neighborhood street network design and brain activity under a social stress paradigm.

During the presentation, Dr. Gu provided a detailed explanation of the study’s background and methodology, along with an in-depth interpretation of the findings. The talk highlighted the potential of space syntax as a promising approach in future neurourbanism research. Compared to conventional quantitative methods for assessing urban space, space syntax is grounded in human spatial cognition and perception, allowing analytical results to more effectively reflect behavioral patterns and real-life experiences in urban environments.

Overall, the presentation offered valuable insights into how urban spatial configurations may influence stress-related brain responses, contributing to a growing interdisciplinary dialogue between urban design and neuroscience.

Watch the full talk

Read the research