This project explores the impact of materials on the human brain, with a specific focus on wood. Led by Steven Laureys and Steven Scholte, the study used fMRI scans to analyse how the brain responds to different material environments.

 

By comparing neural responses across materials, the research aimed to make the often abstract relationship between built environments and human well-being measurable and visible. The findings provide scientific insight into how material choices influence perception, stress, and cognitive processing, translating neuroscience into a tangible framework for design and architecture.