Seeing the city: using eye-tracking technology to explore cognitive responses to the built environment. Issue Volume 12:Issues 2(2019) (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hollander, Justin B.; Purdy, Alexandra; Wiley, Andrew; Foster, Veronica; Jacob, Robert J.K.; Taylor, Holly A.; Brunyé, Tad T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of urbanism. Volume 12:Issues 2(2019)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 171
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: Cognition -- environmental design -- biometrics -- Boston -- eye-tracking; City planning -- Periodicals; Sociology, Urban -- Periodicals; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; 307.7605
• DOI: 10.1080/17549175.2018.1531908
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-9175

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Context continually influences cognition and behavior, whether walking down a quiet rural street or a busy city. Research in urban design and placemaking argues that different urban environments might impact dynamic mental states, providing a framework to empirically test the role of context. Our hypotheses are that distinct contexts can influence eye movements of an individual on the unconscious level. We found that certain urban environments were associated with more positive reactions around likelihood to spend time in the place and sense that the place makes the subject feel relaxed. These environments are representative of new urbanist principles and suggest that these types of designs can provoke important cognitive responses, over more conventional urban designs.