Afetividade pessoa-ambiente nas hortas comunitárias: promoção da saúde e da sustentabilidade / People-environmental affectiveness in community gardens: health and sustainability promotion

RESUMO As hortas comunitárias inspiradas em modelos agroecológicos já são tendências nas cidades que buscam estimular ambientes positivos. Entre as possíveis estratégias, permitem integrar políticas que visam à erradicação da fome, a garantia de qualidade alimentar e o aumento da economia familiar. O presente estudo objetiva analisar os significados simbólicos e afetivos dos usuários diante de suas atividades nas hortas comunitárias urbanas. Foram 40 entrevistados com idade média entre 45 e 80 anos, por meio do Instrumento Gerador de Mapas Afetivos. A pesquisa foi realizada in loco e os participantes foram convidados a desenhar a horta e responder à entrevista. As imagens produzidas foram analisadas a partir de suas estruturas, sentimentos e sentidos. Constatou-se que as vivências nesses ambientes foram mediadas por sentimentos de agradabilidade, pertencimento e restauração. Entre os sentidos atribuídos, destacaram-se a conexão com a natureza e a interação social. Conclui-se que tais dimensões presentes nas hortas estudadas podem contribuir para a promoção da saúde, da sustentabilidade e a preservação ambiental.

ABSTRACT Community gardens inspired by agroecological models are trends in cities that seek to stimulate positive environments. Among the possible strategies, they allow us to integrate policies that aim to eradicate eradicate hunger, guarantee food quality and increase the family economy. This study aims to analyze the symbolic and emotional meanings of users during their activities in urban community gardens. There were 40 interviewees with average age between 45 and 80 years old, through the Affective Map Generator Instrument. The research was carried out on site and the participants were invited to develop the information and respond to the interview. The images produced are analyzed from their structures, feelings and senses. It is confirmed that experiences in these environments are mediated by feelings of pleasantness, belonging and restoration. Among the senses attributed, the connection with nature and social interaction stand out. It is concluded that these dimensions present in the studied gardens can contribute to the promotion of health, sustainability and environmental preservation.

Leveraging and exercising caution with ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools in environmental psychology research.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) is an emerging and disruptive technology that has attracted considerable interest from researchers and educators across various disciplines. We discuss the relevance and concerns of ChatGPT and other GAI tools in environmental psychology research. We propose three use categories for GAI tools: integrated and contextualized understanding, practical and flexible implementation, and two-way external communication. These categories are exemplified by topics such as the health benefits of green space, theory building, visual simulation, and identifying practical relevance. However, we also highlight the balance of productivity with ethical issues, as well as the need for ethical guidelines, professional training, and changes in the academic performance evaluation systems. We hope this perspective can foster constructive dialogue and responsible practice of GAI tools.

Breathing Uneasily: Employees' Stories of Coping With Poor Indoor Air Quality in the Workplace.

OBJECTIVES: This phenomenological study aimed to elucidate the lived experiences of employees suffering from poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in their university workplace. It addresses gaps in understanding IAQ's personal impacts from occupants' perspectives. BACKGROUND: Prior research on sick building syndrome and indoor air pollution utilized quantitative methods to assess physical health outcomes. However, few studies have adopted qualitative approaches to uncover the meanings ascribed to adverse IAQ experiences and their influences on psychosocial well-being. METHODS: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with five university employees who attributed their chronic illnesses to poor IAQ in their 60-year-old office building with a history of IAQ concerns. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed using qualitative techniques including thematic coding to extract key themes conveying shared experiences. RESULTS: Employees depicted the building itself as fundamentally "sick" and stigmatized, compelling complex coping behaviors hindering productivity. Communication breakdowns, mistrust in leadership, and strained workplace relationships were prevalent. A sense of betrayal, powerlessness, and a sense of detachment from the workplace emerged with home as a refuge. CONCLUSIONS: Although technically adequate, poor IAQ profoundly damaged perceived health, quality of life, relationships, and satisfaction. The accounts emphasize IAQ's psychosocial dimensions, advancing theoretical links between indoor environments and well-being. Supportive policies, transparency, communication, participatory processes, and human-centered strategies emerge as ways to nurture productivity, well-being, and organizational health.

The impact of room shape on affective states, heartrate, and creative output.

The architectural design of space can deeply impact an individuals' mood, physiology, and mental health. While previous research has predominantly focused on elements like nature and lighting within architectural spaces, there is a growing literature base that also investigates the psychological and neurophysiological impacts of geometrical properties of architectural spaces. Employing virtual reality technology, the study sought to investigate the effects of curved and rectangular architectural spaces on affective states, heart rate, and creativity. A total of 35 participants were exposed to two distinct virtual environments: a curved room and a rectangular room. Participants' self-reported mood was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-Long Form). Heart rate was monitored using a pulse oximeter, and creative output was evaluated using the Guilford Alternative Uses Task (GAUT). Statistical comparisons between the two room types indicated that participants experienced higher positive affect and lower negative affect in the curved room condition compared to the rectangular room condition. Furthermore, heart rate measurements revealed lower physiological arousal in the curved room. Additionally, participants exhibited higher creative output in the curved room as opposed to the rectangular room. These findings align with previous literature on the influence of geometric factors on affective responses. The implications of this study are significant as they pertain to individuals' daily environments and their impact on health and well-being. The positive influence of curved room geometry on mood, arousal, and creativity emphasises the importance of considering room layout and design in various settings, such as workplaces and educational environments. Architects and designers can utilise these findings to inform their decisions and promote neuroarchitecture that enhances positive emotional experiences and productivity.

Space station and spacecraft environmental conditions and human mental health: Specific recommendations and guidelines.

The way that a given environment may influence human mental health is widely established, with decades of research linking anxiety, depression, stress, productivity, and general mood with all facets of a given environment, including noise levels, lighting, air quality, and other factors. The environmental conditions of a space habitat have far reaching consequences for human mental health and should be carefully managed. This manuscript serves to briefly review what is known about the main components of a space habitat (e.g., noise levels, lighting, air quality, privacy, plant life, etc.), and provide specific and clear recommendations for mission planners and space habitat designers. Where appropriate, opportunities for future research are highlighted.

Leucocyte telomere length, brain volume and risk of dementia: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The evidence regarding the association between leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and brain health is sparse and inconclusive. Aims: To investigate the associations of LTL with brain structure and the risk of dementia based on a large-scale prospective study. Methods: LTL in the peripheral blood was measured by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay from 439 961 individuals in the UK Biobank recruited between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2020. Electronic health records were used to record the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The brain structure, including total and regional brain volume, of 38 740 participants was then assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results: During a median follow-up of 11.6 years, a total of 5 820 (1.3%) dementia cases were documented. The restricted cubic spline model showed significant overall associations between LTL and the risk of dementia and AD (p for overall <0.05). The multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the lowest LTL tertile compared with the highest LTL tertile were 1.14 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06 to 1.21) for dementia, 1.28 (95% CI: 1.12 to 1.46) for AD and 1.18 (95% CI: 0.98 to 1.42) for VD. Furthermore, we found that shorter LTL was associated with smaller total brain volume (ß=-0.012 8, p=0.003), white matter volume (ß=-0.022 4, p<0.001), hippocampus volume (ß=-0.017 2, p<0.001), thalamus volume (ß=-0.023 9, p<0.001) and accumbens (ß=-0.015 5, p=0.001). Conclusions: Shorter LTL is associated with total and regional brain structure and a higher risk of incident dementia and AD, implying the potential of telomere length as a predictive biomarker of brain health.

Designing environments that contribute to a reduction in the progression of Parkinson's disease; a literature review.

Parkinson's Disease (PD), a prevalent neurological disorder, causes physical difficulties like stiffness and impaired walking and affects patients' emotional well-being. Regular exercise and exposure to enriched environments are crucial to managing these symptoms. This review aims to extract evidence from studies regarding built environments' impact on reducing the progression of PD. Keywords from 2005 to 2022 were used in five databases, including PubMed, Clarivate Web of Science, UGA Library, and Google Scholar. Many studies emphasized physiotherapy and training for physical enhancement, often utilizing virtual games and smart devices. Others highlighted the advantages of non-slip flooring and accessible outdoor spaces, with some based on universal design principles. Few studies considered the emotional impact of built environments, showing a considerable gap in the studies simultaneously evaluating psychological and physical perspectives of Parkinson-friendly environments. There needs to be more consistency when considering these aspects of planning. Our findings suggest future research modeling enriched environments and tracking their impact on patients via Virtual Reality to find a comprehensive guideline for the most effective PD management environments.

Making waves: Mental health impacts of inadequate drinking water services - From sidenote to research focus.

The paramount significance of the harmful impacts of poor drinking water services on physical health have been recognized for decades. Besides, over the past twenty years, an additional body of literature on their negative mental health impacts has emerged. With this brief review, we summarise the findings of the scholarship to advance addressing overall health (physical, mental, and social) in the water sector. We furthermore review the key policy documents of this field with a focus on mental health aspects and give recommendations for practitioners and decision-makers on addressing mental health in water service delivery. We reviewed the existing published works (42) assessing psychological impacts of deficient drinking water services in low-income settings. We then identified and compared the different mechanisms causing negative mental health outcomes described in them. For these purposes, we used a water insecurity experience -model and the vulnerability-stress model of clinical psychology. Next, we probed key international and national guiding documents of the water sector to analyse how mental health issues resulting from poor services are addressed today. We found that according to the literature, poor quality and quantity of water was predictably one of the most important psychosocial stressors to users. Surprisingly, however, various kinds of water-service-related inequalities (e.g. between genders, communities or socio-economic groups) showed up as equally significant stressors. Our analysis with the vulnerability-stress model furthermore indicates that insufficient drinking water services may predispose to common mental disorders particularly through external stress. Existing field guidelines have evolved to highlight the values of non-discrimination and participation, whilst mental health aspects remain ignored. This should not be the case. Therefore, practices for addressing mental health effectively in documentation and water service development should be further researched. But already in the light of the existing literature, we urge stakeholders to focus more on the negative mental health impacts of unequal service provision for users and nearby people left without improved services.

The influence of virtual environment on thermal perception: physical reaction and subjective thermal perception on outdoor scenarios in virtual reality.

Positive thermal perception can affect users' climate-controlling behavior, indirectly reducing a building's operational carbon emissions. Studies show that some visual elements, such as window sizes and light colors, can influence thermal perception. However, until recently there has been little interest in the interaction of thermal perception and outdoor visual scenarios or natural elements like water or trees, and little quantitative evidence has been found associating visual natural elements and thermal comfort. This experiment explores and quantifies the extent to which visual scenarios outdoors affect thermal perception. The experiment used a double-blind clinical trial. All tests were done in a stable laboratory environment to eliminate temperature changes, and scenarios were shown through a virtual reality (VR) headset. Forty-three participants were divided into three groups randomly, separately watched VR-outdoor scenarios with natural elements, VR-indoor scenarios, and a control scenario of the real laboratory, then finished a subjective questionnaire conducted to evaluate their thermal, environmental, and overall perceptions while their physical data (heart rate, blood pressure, pulse) was real-time recorded. Results show that visual scenarios could significantly influence thermal perception (Cohen's d between groups > 0.8). Significant positive correlations were found between key thermal perception index, thermal comfort, and visual perception indexes including visual comfort, pleasantness, and relaxation (all PCCs ≤ 0.01). Outdoor scenarios, with better visual perception, rank higher average scores (M ± SD = 1.0 ± 0.7) in thermal comfort than indoor groups (average M ± SD = 0.3 ± 1.0) while the physical environment remains unchanged. This connection between thermal and environmental perception can be used in building design. By being visually exposed to pleasing outdoor environments, the positive thermal perception will increase, and thus reduce building energy consumption. Designing positive visual environments with outdoor natural elements is not only a requirement for health but also a feasible path toward a sustainable net-zero future.

Global heart warming: kama muta evoked by climate change messages is associated with intentions to mitigate climate change.

Concern about climate change is often rooted in sympathy, compassion, and care for nature, living beings, and future generations. Feeling sympathy for others temporarily forms a bond between them and us: we focus on what we have in common and feel a sense of common destiny. Thus, we temporarily experience communal sharing relationships. A sudden intensification in communal sharing evokes an emotion termed kama muta, which may be felt through tearing up, a warm feeling in the chest, or goosebumps. We conducted four pre-registered studies (n = 1,049) to test the relationship between kama muta and pro-environmental attitudes, intentions, and behavior. In each study, participants first reported their attitudes about climate change. Then, they received climate change-related messages. In Study 1, they saw one of the two moving video clips about environmental concerns. In Study 2, participants listened to a more or less moving version of a story about a typhoon in the Philippines. In Study 3, they listened to a different, also moving version of this story or an unrelated talk. In Study 4, they watched either a factual or a moving video about climate change. Participants then indicated their emotional responses. Finally, they indicated their intentions for climate mitigation actions. In addition, we measured time spent reading about climate-related information (Studies 1, 2, and 4) and donating money (Study 4). Across all studies, we found that feelings of kama muta correlated positively with pro-environmental intentions (r = 0.48 [0.34, 0.62]) and behavior (r = 0.10 [0.0004, 0.20]). However, we did not obtain evidence for an experimental effect of the type of message (moving or neutral) on pro-environmental intentions (d = 0.04 [-0.09, 0.18]), though this relationship was significantly mediated by felt kama muta across Studies 2-4. The relationship was not moderated by prior climate attitudes, which had a main effect on intentions. We also found an indirect effect of condition through kama muta on donation behavior. In sum, our results contribute to the question of whether kama muta evoked by climate-change messages can be a motivating force in efforts at climate-change mitigation.

The psychosocial impact of climate change among smallholder farmers: a potential threat to sustainable development.

Psychosocial impacts of climate change and implications on sustainable development remain unclear. This problem was addressed focusing on smallholder farmers in resettlement areas of Chirumanzu District, Zimbabwe. An Exploratory Descriptive Qualitative research design was adopted. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select 54 farmers who served as main respondents from four representative wards. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Code groups and codes were established through inductive approaches considering narratives of farmers. Forty psychosocial impacts were established. They were qualitative, intangible, indirect and difficult to measure quantitatively. Farmers agonized over the threat of climate change on farming operations, felt humiliated, and embarrassed over detestable practices they resorted to due to climate change. Some farmers experienced heightened negative feelings, thoughts, and emotions. It was established that psychosocial impacts of climate change have a bearing on sustainable development of emerging rural communities.

Multimodal assessment of effects of urban environments on psychological wellbeing.

The built environment is a ubiquitous factor of modern human life, which fundamentally affects human wellbeing. Most existing research on the psychological effects of urban environments is predominantly based on subjective self-report measures, which provide valuable insights into subjective experiences, but are also affected by conscious and subconscious bias. In the current study, we evaluate a multimodal approach to capturing wellbeing by employing objective mobile physiological and neurophysiological measurement technologies alongside self-reports to capture the impact of two different urban environments. Moreover, we endeavoured to comprehensively measure and, when possible, control the physical aspects of the environment. Our study specifically aimed to discover differences between psychological wellbeing indicators in adults across low-density vs. moderate-density urban environments. Data collection took place in two urban outdoor locations in Australia. Statistical comparison of the two locations indicated that low urban density led to comparatively higher levels of psychological wellbeing compared to moderate urban density. Self-reports indicated that the low-density environment led to higher levels of subjective feelings of comfort and safety and reduced levels of negative mood. In line with the subjective reports, in the low-density environment compared to the moderate-density environment, individuals showed higher levels of EEG theta activity, while EEG beta and heart rate measures were lower. The research outcome provides insights into how urban density affects people's wellbeing and showcases the benefits of employing ecologically-valid multimodal psychological-environmental measurement approaches to effectively evaluate the psychological impacts of built environments.

Prosociality and Personality: Perceived Efficacy of Behaviors Mediates Relationships between Personality and Self-Reported Climate Change Mitigation Behavior.

The included studies examined the relationship between climate change mitigation behavior (CCB) and personality. In Study 1, 1089 US collegians completed a measure of the Big Five and indicated how often they engaged in five CCBs. Engaging in each CCB was regressed on the Big Five. These analyses found openness was positively related to all five CCBs, neuroticism was positively related to four of five CCBs, and extraversion was positively related to three CCBs. In Study 2, 1688 US collegians completed the same measures as in Study 1 with two additional CCBs. They also indicated how efficacious they thought each CCB was. Each CCB was regressed on the Big Five. These results largely replicated those of Study 1 and also found that conscientiousness was positively related to five of seven CCBs. Mediational analyses found that all relationships between personality factors and CCB were mediated by the perceived efficacy of the CCB. The present results suggest that efforts to increase climate change mitigation behavior need to take into account the perceived efficacy of such behaviors.

Investigating the Impact of Occupational Technostress and Psychological Restorativeness of Natural Spaces on Work Engagement and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated lockdowns and mandatory working from home, as well as restrictions on travel and recreation. As a result, many people have had to use their home as an office and have increased their use of Information Communications Technology (ICT) for work purposes. Nature and accessing natural spaces are known to be beneficial for human health and wellbeing, as a result of their restorative properties. Access to local outdoor spaces was permitted under restrictions, and use of such spaces increased during lockdown. This survey study investigated whether the perceived restorativeness of natural spaces and exposure to technostress predicted the levels of work engagement and work-life balance satisfaction (WLBS) during the period of COVID-19 restrictions adopted in 2020. Analyses conducted on a sample of 109 people employed in the UK revealed that technostress negatively impacted WLBS, whilst perceived psychological restorativeness positively predicted work engagement. The study highlights the benefits of having access to natural spaces to improve employees' work engagement and potentially negate the negative effects of technostress, particularly during a period of intensive working from home. The results contribute to the understanding of the linkages between restorativeness and work engagement, paving the way for synergies across these research fields.

"Recupere a Lagoa": análise barthesiana de imagens pós-desastre na Lagoa da Conceição/SC / "Recover Lagoa": barthesian analysis of postdisaster images in Lagoa da Conceição/SC / "Recuperar Lagoa": análisis barthesiano de imágenes pos-desastre en Lagoa da Conceição/SC

INTRODUÇÃO: No dia 25 de janeiro de 2021 ocorreu o rompimento de uma das barragens da Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) para depositar esgoto tratado, atingindo 50 famílias de Florianópolis/SC. OBJETIVO: Esse artigo visa interpretar imagens capturadas por atingidos pelo desastre ambiental da Lagoa da Conceição/SC. CAMPO: a pesquisa se sucedeu na localidade afetada - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. MÉTODO: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa do tipo pesquisa-ação a partir de um corte transversal. Utilizou-se a técnica fotografando ambientes, em sequência, a análise semiótica de imagens desenvolvida por Barthes e a Teoria das Representações Sociais (TRS) para auxiliar na interpretação dos dados. RESULTADOS: Os signos apresentados nas imagens capturadas foram: 1) punhos erguidos fechados um símbolo comumente utilizado em campanhas na busca por direitos igualitários e resistência; 2) mensagens enfáticas utilizando termos como "réu", "culpa" e "crime", referindo-se a CASAN; 3) símbolos e personalidades políticas como forma de pressionar autoridades competentes e agilizar o processo de retorno às suas vidas. Entende-se que mesmo passado um ano do desastre, as pessoas atingidas ainda lutam e discutem com a CASAN em busca do ressarcimento integral e justo dos seus direitos. CONCLUSÃO: A comunidade ainda está se recuperando do desastre, passando por uma reconfiguração. Porém, diante dessa tragédia, a comunidade enquanto grupo se fortaleceu em decorrência dos movimentos sociais realizados pelo bem comum dos afetados. Portanto, em meio ao caos, formaram uma rede de apoio com um objetivo: recuperar (parte) do que lhes foi tirado.

INTRODUCTION: On January 25, 2021, one of the dams belonging to the Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) to deposit treated sewage broke, affecting 50 families in Florianópolis/SC. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to interpret images captured by people affected by the environmental disaster at Lagoa da Conceição/SC. FIELD: The research took place in the affected location - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. METHOD: This is a qualitative action-research study based on a cross-section. The technique of photographing environments was used, in sequence, the semiotic analysis of images developed by Barthes and the Theory of Social Representations (TRS) to assist in the interpretation of the data. RESULTS: The signs shown in the captured images were: 1) closed raised fists, a symbol commonly used in campaigns seeking equal rights and resistance; 2) emphatic messages using terms such as "defendant", "fault" and "crime", referring to CASAN; 3) political symbols and personalities as a way of putting pressure on competent authorities and speeding up the process of returning to their lives. It is understood that even one year after the disaster, the people affected are still fighting and discussing with CASAN in search of full and fair compensation for their rights. CONCLUSION: The community is still recovering from the disaster, undergoing a reconfiguration. However, in the face of this tragedy, the community as a group was strengthened as a result of social movements carried out for the common good of those affected. Therefore, in the midst of chaos, they formed a support network with one goal: to recover (part of) what was taken from them.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El 25 de enero de 2021, una de las represas de la Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) para depositar aguas residuales tratadas se rompió, afectando a 50 familias en Florianópolis/SC. OBJETIVO: Este artículo tiene como objetivo interpretar imágenes captadas por personas afectadas por el desastre ambiental en la Lagoa da Conceição/SC. CAMPO: la investigación se realizó en el local afectado - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. MÉTODO: Se trata de un estudio cualitativo de investigación-acción basado en un corte transversal. Se utilizó la técnica de fotografiar ambientes, en secuencia, el análisis semiótico de imágenes desarrollado por Barthes y la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales (TRS) para auxiliar en la interpretación de los datos. RESULTADOS: Los signos mostrados en las imágenes capturadas fueron: 1) puños cerrados en alto, símbolo comúnmente utilizado en campañas de igualdad de derechos y resistencia; 2) mensajes enfáticos utilizando términos como "acusado", "culpa" y "delito", refiriéndose a CASAN; 3) símbolos y personalidades políticas como una forma de presionar a las autoridades competentes y acelerar el proceso de retorno a sus vidas. Se entiende que aún después de un año del desastre, las personas afectadas siguen luchando y discutiendo con CASAN en busca de una compensación plena y justa por sus derechos. CONCLUSIÓN: La comunidad aún se está recuperando del desastre, pasando por una reconfiguración. Sin embargo, ante esta tragedia, la comunidad como grupo se fortaleció como resultado de los movimientos sociales realizados por el bien común de los afectados. Por eso, en medio del caos, formaron una red de apoyo con un objetivo: recuperar (parte de) lo que les fue arrebatado.

Does environmental psychology matter: role of green finance and government spending for sustainable development.

Over 30% of the global GDP and 60% of the worldwide population are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), making it one of the greatest development projects in the world. If infrastructure developments in BRI countries are successful, economic growth in those nations will increase dramatically. Using data from 2005 to 2020, this research examines the relationships between environmental psychology, green finance, and sustainable development and variables such as GDP per capita and its square, green financing, government expenditure, and human capital in 57 strategically chosen BRI economies. Economists used cutting-edge techniques that take into account multiple variables at once in their analysis, such as cross-sectional dependence, unit root testing, co-integration analysis, IFE estimation, dynamic panel data (DCCE), and generalized method of moments (system GMM). The findings indicate that green financing, government spending, and GDP per capita squared reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. In this analysis, the level of human capital is similar to GDP per capita in its beneficial effect on carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are negatively impacted by government spending, which has a minor effect on GDP per capita, green financing, and human capital. Using the results of this study, the authors offer recommendations for how a country can reduce its carbon output.

Functional brain connectivity during exposure to the scale and color of interior built environments.

Understanding brain activity linked to built environment exposure is important, as it may affect underlying cognitive, perceptual, and emotional processes, which have a critical influence in our daily life. As our time spent inside buildings is rising, and mental health problems have become more prevalent, it is important we investigate how design characteristics of the built environment impact brain function. In this study, we utilized electroencephalography to understand whether the design elements of scale and color of interior built environments modulate functional brain connectivity (i.e., brain network communication). Using a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment, while controlling indoor environmental quality responsible for physiological comfort, healthy adult participants aged 18-55 years (66 for scale, subset of 18 for color), were exposed to context-neutral indoor room scenes presented for two-minutes each. Our results show that both enlarging and reducing scale enhanced theta connectivity across the left temporoparietal region and right frontal region. We also found when reducing the built environment scale, there was a network exhibiting greater high-gamma connectivity, over the right frontoparietal region. For color, the condition (blue) contrasted to our achromatic control (white) increased theta connectivity in the frontal hemispheres. These findings identify a link between theta and gamma oscillations during exposure to the scale and color of the built environment, showing that design characteristics of the built environment could affect our cognitive processes and mental health. This suggests that, through the design of buildings, we may be able to mediate performance and health outcomes, which could lead to major health and economic benefits for society.