Information richness can include complexity in visual, sound, touch, smell and/or taste for a sensuous & intellectually challenging environment.

(e.g.,  assortment of patterns, texture and color for sensory variety)

SENSORY RICHNESS

Research

1. Pleasant smells lowered patient-rated anxiety during magnetic resonance imaging (Redd, Manne, Peters, Jacobsen, & Schmidt, 1994).

2. Natural sounds have a calming, relaxing effect that improves sleep quality has been shown in a study of surgery patients (Williamson & J W Williamson, 1992).

3. Similarly, sensory variation in ambient conditions (light levels, temperature) between spaces and over time is preferred by building occupants (Barkow, 1995).

4. Sky representation over patient beds beneficial for acute stress and anxiety levels (Pati et al., 2016)

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References

Barkow, J. H. (Ed.). (1995). The adapted mind: evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. New York: Oxford Univ. Press.

Pati, D., Freier, P., O’Boyle, M., Amor, C., & Valipoor, S. (2016). The Impact of Simulated Nature on Patient Outcomes: A Study of Photographic Sky Compositions. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 9(2), 36–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586715595505

Redd, W. H., Manne, S. L., Peters, B., Jacobsen, P. B., & Schmidt, H. (1994). Fragrance administration to reduce anxiety during MR imaging. Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 4(4), 623–626. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.1880040419

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Williamson, J., & J W Williamson. (1992). The effects of ocean sounds on sleep after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. American Journal of Critical Care, 1(1), 91–97.