Architecture and CognitionArchitectural settings’ influence on cognitive performance in an isolated and confined environment, over time.

Sammanfattning: his thesis examines the relationship between architectural design in a space analog environment and cognitive performance. This is done through longitudinal, repeated measures, quantitative study which was conducted during a Mars analog mission, with cognitive assessments administered under different environmental conditions within the mission habitat. Key architectural factors explored included privacy, exposure to natural elements, and spatial ambiguity. Cognitive performance was evaluated through a range of assessments targeting executive function, reaction time, and working memory. Key findings suggest that privacy and exposure to natural elements significantly influenced cognitive performance. Participants showed improved reaction times in more private spaces, and enhanced executive function in spaces mimicking natural environments. However, the effects of spatial ambiguity remained inconclusive. The study raises intriguing possibilities for architectural design in real-life space missions, echoing the requests of veteran astronauts for more diverse living and working spaces. Conclusions: While the conclusions drawn are promising, the findings are confined by the study's limitations such as the small sample size, specific conditions of the simulated space mission, and the quantitative focus. Therefore, additional research incorporating diverse methodologies, populations, contexts, and assessment methods is recommended. This study serves as a stepping stone towards a more comprehensive understanding of the interactions between space architecture and cognitive performance, with implications for human space exploration.