Research on environmental comfort and cognitive performance based on EEG+VR+LEC evaluation method in underground space

Abstract

Significant research on space has been conducted to stimulate the potential of the environment to positively impact the human body and accurately optimize the quality of the living environment. In underground spaces, there is a reduced ability to connect with the outdoor natural environment; thus, it is very important to study methods of optimizing the quality of underground space by exploring people's feelings as they relate to the built environment. This study adopted an electroencephalogram (EEG) + virtual reality (VR) + laboratory environmental control (LEC) method to simulate the underground building environment, explore the mechanisms operating between building space information and human perception feedback, and reveal the laws of interaction between the two. The space prototype was a typical independent underground office space. Three experimental scenes were created using VR. An EEG test, blood oxygen rhythm evaluation, and subjective questionnaire were employed to identify the influence of the space on environmental comfort and cognitive performance. Through an analysis of the EEG energy distribution, CP6 was found to be the most significant active degree. Regarding regional distribution, the active areas of the scene elements were located in the posterior and central zones. Additionally, by analyzing the EEG rhythm, a correlational relationship between β H/β L and cognitive performance was identified. The results strongly indicate that in different scenes, subjects' cognitive performance was affected by changes in the environment. Therefore, this study provides accurate reference information for designers of architectural spaces, based on user satisfaction and physical and mental health.