Urban neuroarchitectural habitability: Analysis of cases in Latin America

Abstract

Neuroarchitectural habitability constitutes an emerging approach that seeks to broaden the traditional understanding of habitable space by incorporating perceptual, emotional, and cognitive dimensions; however, in Latin America, a gap persists between the growing interest in these applications and the limited use of objective neurophysiological measurements. The objective of this study was to analyze the application of the neuroarchitectural approach in architectural and urban contexts in Latin America by identifying its main approaches, methodological characteristics, convergences, and limitations in relation to international evidence. A qualitative, documentary, and descriptive study was conducted. Publications from 2013 to 2026, complemented by classical works, were reviewed for the conceptual framework, while the regional analysis considered studies published between 2018 and 2026. Eight analytical units corresponding to cases from Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru were established and compared according to intervention scale, neuroarchitectural approach, methodology, and findings. The results showed a predominance of applications in housing and facilities, together with sensory, perceptual, and biophilic strategies associated with reported improvements in well-being, spatial appropriation, and subjective stress reduction. Nevertheless, qualitative and design-oriented methodologies predominated, with limited incorporation of neurophysiological instruments. It was concluded that neuroarchitecture has significant potential for Latin American contexts, although its consolidation requires strengthening empirical evidence, expanding comparative studies, and integrating perceptual, behavioral, and physiological methods.