How do our spaces help us balance, not just emotionally, but neurologically? In Part 2 of my conversation with world-renowned neuroaesthetics expert Dr. Oshin Vartanian, we explore how interior design can support emotional processing, facilitate creativity, and foster well-being and meaning.

Together, we unpack how subtle design choices, from natural elements to multisensory design, can engage the brain in ways that often operate beneath conscious awareness. We touch on topics like exposure therapy through design, brain homeostasis, and why the environments we choose might be more connected to our nervous system than we realize.

Whether you’re a designer, therapist, creative, or simply curious about how the brain responds to interior space, this episode offers a grounded and eye-opening look into the intersection of neuroaesthetics and environmental psychology.

🧠 Dr. Vartanian is a leading voice in the neuroaesthetics field. He is a Professor at the University of Toronto and President of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics (IAEA). His research bridges psychology, neuroscience, and aesthetics, and has shaped how we understand the power of space on human cognition and emotion.

🎧 Tap play to discover:

• How natural materials and multisensory design quietly shape your emotional and creative states
• The surprising ways your brain seeks balance through the environments you choose
• How thoughtfully designed spaces can support emotional healing and nervous system regulation
• Why personalization matters more than design trends in creating meaningful interiors
• The latest tools researchers use to study how design impacts brain function over time

👇 If something resonates, share it with a fellow design-lover, and follow the show for future episodes. 

⏱️ Timestamps: 

(0:00) Introduction 

(2:22) What mental and emotional health benefits can we gain by incorporating nature into our interior environments? 

(6:53) Neuroaesthetics vs. environmental psychology: what’s the difference?

(10:27) Neurological mechanisms that foster connection, belonging, and unity through natural elements

(15:45) Cathedrals, multisensory design, and how sacred spaces affect the brain

(17:22) What’s the sweet spot for multisensory design load on the brain and nervous system?

(24:07) Design elements that support creativity + Dr. Vartanian’s personal story of rediscovering focus in a nostalgic space

(26:34) Pleasure versus joy in neuroaesthetics 

(30:00) Portable EEGs, VR, and studying real-time brain response to space 

(32:17) How design supports emotional processing and homeostasis 

(35:12) Therapeutic spaces, fear rooms, and emotional alchemy

(39:35) Meaning-making in art, design and aesthetics  

(41:24) Interior environments and personal development 

(42:28) Common design mistakes & understanding the end user 

(45:48) Flexible design features: ceiling height and cognition 

(47:39) The future of neuroaesthetic research and unanswered questions 

(49:52) How reward systems process beauty and space 

(51:15) Where to learn more: IAEA, APA Division 10, and ANFA. See resources below for direct links! 

(54:12) Closing and outro 

Resources: ⁠

• Dr. Oshin Vartanian – University of Toronto ⁠
• International Association of Empirical Aesthetics (IAEA) ⁠
• American Psychological Association – Division 10 
• ⁠Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) ⁠

⁠🎶 Music by: TELL YOUR STORY by ikson™ Link: https://ikson.com/tell-your-story 

🛑 Disclaimer:

• The Aligned Interior Podcast is for general information only and does not constitute medical or mental health advice. 
• The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 
• The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk.