Perceived and yet not seen: non-visual effects in daylit spaces

Findings from neuroscience are increasingly interwoven with architectural research (1,2). Understanding physiological responses to environmental stimuli in the built environment is critical when evaluating occupant health and wellbeing. Research in the field of photobiology has shown that lighting conditions can significantly alter our circadian rhythms through the non-visual system (3,4). This might result in acute changes regarding fatigue, vigilance or cognitive performance during our daily routines (6). Among the variety of architectural parameters of relevance to lighting design (e.g. orientation, material choice, environmental conditions…), the challenge is to determine which specific features, if any, have a significant influence on the physical properties of light initiating a neurobehavioral process.