neuroscience

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Light, Play and Possibility - in conversation with Frankie Boyle, experiential light artist

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Light, Play and Possibility - in conversation with Frankie Boyle, experiential light artist

Light profoundly impacts our neurological and biological systems through its connection to our evolutionary history. Our brains are fundamentally programmed to respond to moving, dynamic light sources - which is why we're instinctively transfixed by a candle flame. Artificial light, by contrast, has only existed for 180 years, which is essentially nothing in evolutionary time. This means static white lights do little to support our relaxation or psychological connectivity. We speak with Frankie Boyle, light artist extraordinaire who fuses physics, psychology, neuroscience and art.

Frankie’s work is beautiful, a manifestation of the fusion of biophilia and creativity. I love the gorgeous fluidity, the colours, the dance of light and dark, for me experiencing her installations even through the screen feels like you are walking into a song.

As Frankie explains, humans have been interacting with light for 4 billion years, primarily through natural sources like sunlight and fire.

From a neurological perspective, light triggers specific responses in our nervous system that are deeply rooted in survival mechanisms. Our brains are programmed to detect movement because it signals potential hunting opportunities or threats. Different colours and light intensities activate different neurological responses - for instance, vibrant blues are energising and motivating, while sunset tones with yellows and oranges signal relaxation and the end of the day. These light interactions influence our brain's energy allocation. If we design lighting intentionally, we can help encourage the neural resources of anyone experiencing the space to focus on specific tasks, ultimately improving their cognitive performance and emotional well-being.

READ ON AND WATCH THE INTERVIEW…..

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The Sound of Silence - How Noise is destroying our connection to nature and each other

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The Sound of Silence - How Noise is destroying our connection to nature and each other

Julian, renowned for his TED talks, reveals how modern human-generated noise is systematically destroying ecosystems, disrupting animal communication, and fundamentally altering our relationship with the environment. From whales struggling to communicate across oceans due to shipping noise to insects experiencing shortened mating cycles near roadways, the acoustic pollution is devastating.

The consequences extend far beyond environmental damage. Our inability to truly listen is fracturing human society. Julian argues that we've lost the art of compassionate listening, creating dangerous social echo chambers where people only hear opinions that confirm their existing beliefs.

Critically, our noise-saturated world is causing serious health problems. Julian highlights that hospitals are 12 times louder than recommended levels, preventing patient recovery. Classrooms bombard children with sound levels that could increase heart attack risks. A billion young people risk hearing damage from excessive headphone use.

But there's hope. Julian advocates for radical reimagining of our sonic environments. Simple interventions like playing nature sounds, training medical staff to be quieter, and teaching children listening skills could transform societal outcomes.

READ ON AND WATCH THE VIDEOCAST

"We've become numb to sound," Julian explains. Humans now spend 93% of their lives indoors, sealed away from natural soundscapes of wind, water, and birdsong - sounds our ancestors evolved alongside for hundreds of thousands of years.

The consequences extend far beyond environmental damage. Our inability to truly listen is fracturing human society. Julian argues that we've lost the art of compassionate listening, creating dangerous social echo chambers where people only hear opinions that confirm their existing beliefs.

Critically, our noise-saturated world is causing serious health problems. Julian highlights that hospitals are 12 times louder than recommended levels, preventing patient recovery. Classrooms bombard children with sound levels that could increase heart attack risks. A billion young people risk hearing damage from excessive headphone use.

Read on and Watch the interview…

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Seeing the Light: How Biophilic Lighting Design improves Health and Wellbeing

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Seeing the Light: How Biophilic Lighting Design improves Health and Wellbeing

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial environments, the importance of reconnecting with nature has never been more crucial. Xander Cadisch, head of the independent research arm Light Tribe of Phos, is on a mission to illuminate the science behind biophilic design and its profound impact on human behaviour. He explores the electromagnetic spectrum explaining how light is part of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, which includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, and ultraviolet. - As you move from red to violet in the visible light spectrum, the wavelength gets shorter and the frequency increases. He goes on to share WHY this is important to us when we design spaces.

Xander explains how we emerged out of the sea and how our eyes still carry those salt water ducts which are reminders of where we evolved from. He goes on to explain the evolutionary journey that has hardwired our brains to respond to the natural rhythms of light and colour. "We've always had these intrinsic links to the rising and setting of the sun and all these different colour variations and intensities and wavelengths that the sun gives us at night, at daytime, and then removed at night."

However, the modern human now spends a staggering 90% of their time indoors, deprived of this vital connection. "It's less than the legal requirement for maximum security prisoners," he says. This disconnect has profound consequences, as our eyes and brains are wired to thrive on the sensory experiences found in the natural world.

"Light is one of the main guiding forces to the world around us," he says. "Potentially  80% of how we interact with the world around us comes from what we see." From the way certain wavelengths can influence our mood and productivity, to the importance of shadows and contrast in creating a sense of harmony, the science behind lighting design is complex and often overlooked.

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