Search Results (864)

Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered online shopping is profoundly reshaping the way in which consumers engage with sustainable clothing. However, the relationships between digital multisensory cues and perceived quality with sustainable consumption intention still need to be explored. Based on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, the present study explores the relationships of digital multisensory cues and perceived quality with consumers’ flow experience, pleasure, and responses (e.g., engagement, loyalty, and sustainable consumption intention) in the context of AI-powered online shopping using a cross-sectional, scenario-based, assisted recall survey. A total of 571 valid responses were retained for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was adopted for data analysis. The findings indicate that digital multisensory cues showed a positive relationship with pleasure, whereas perceived quality was positively associated with both flow experience and pleasure. Flow experience was positively linked to pleasure, which was further associated with engagement and sustainable consumption intention. Statistically significant indirect effects on sustainable consumption intention through pleasure were observed for flow experience, digital multisensory cues, and perceived quality. The results of this study offer practical implications for retailers seeking to design emotionally engaging AI-powered shopping experiences that may support sustainable consumption intention. Full article

Underground heritage spaces represent a distinctive yet underexplored asset of the built environment, characterized by stable microclimatic conditions, limited natural lighting, strong material identity and complex perceptual dynamics. Despite their potential for sustainable regeneration, existing adaptive reuse approaches often fail to establish explicit links between environmental diagnosis, heritage conservation and user-centered design. This study proposes an integrated human-centered framework for the sustainable adaptive reuse of hypogeal heritage spaces, structured into three sequential phases: multisensory environmental diagnosis, reversible architectural design and virtual reality (VR)-based perceptual validation. The framework is applied to a disused historic underground complex in Dugenta (southern Italy), where an underground cavity is being repurposed within a hospitality-oriented redevelopment project. The diagnostic phase combines LiDAR-based geometric acquisition, indoor environmental monitoring and acoustic analysis, translating measured parameters into sensory indicators and a diagnostic criticality matrix. These outputs inform the development of a reversible liner/shell architectural system designed to improve environmental quality while preserving the integrity of the heritage fabric. Finally, alternative multisensory design scenarios are assessed through an exploratory VR-based evaluation focused on perceived restorativeness and spatial experience. The results demonstrate how environmental data can be systematically transformed into traceable design decisions, supporting conservation, user well-being and sustainable heritage regeneration. The proposed framework contributes a replicable methodology for integrating environmental performance, heritage preservation and human-centered design into the adaptive reuse of underground built heritage. Full article

Despite the growing sophistication of immersive virtual reality (VR) technologies, olfactory feedback remains underexplored in VR gaming. This study introduces Scent Ninja, a VR fruit-slicing game integrated with a custom head-mounted olfactory virtual reality display, and explores whether event-triggered fruit scents are associated with differences in presence, immersion, user experience, and gameplay performance. A total of 12 participants completed scent evaluation trials and gameplay sessions with and without scent. Results show that detection time, recognition, intensity, and pleasantness varied across stimuli, with Pineapple and Lime producing stronger perceptual responses. During gameplay, scents were associated with significantly higher transportation-related immersion ratings, while no significant differences were observed for presence, other immersion items, user experience, or gameplay performance. A significant order effect in perceived scent intensity suggests that sensitivity to olfactory cues may vary with task context and prior exposure within the gameplay environment. Qualitative feedback highlights the perceived importance of scent timing, odor fidelity, intensity, and alignment with in-game actions. The findings provide exploratory evidence that event-triggered olfactory cues may support the transportation dimension of immersion during active VR gameplay, while emphasizing timing, scent intensity, perceptual clarity, and contextual congruence as important design considerations for olfactory VR design. Full article

This article examines the Popcretos, a series of collage works by Brazilian concrete poet Augusto de Campos, situating them within the broader trajectory of his experimental poetics and the political context of Brazil’s military dictatorship. While existing scholarship has focused primarily on the series’s visual and semiological dimensions, this article argues that sound operates as a structuring element across the Popcretos, shaping how images are arranged and meanings emerge. Drawing on sound studies scholarship and critic Carrie Noland’s concept of sound-sensitive visuality, the article traces how the tension between noise and silence informs de Campos’s work from his earliest poems through the concrete poetry movement’s political turn in the early 1960s. Close readings of three works from the series (“The Anti-Noise,” “An Eye for an Eye,” and “Hush!”) reveal how sonic categories are mobilized to critique cultural imperialism, mass media spectacle, and authoritarian censorship. The article concludes that the Popcretos exceed ocularcentrism, functioning also as a multisensorial form of “auditory writing” within its sonic–visual materiality. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dizziness is a common clinical symptom that can develop from various diseases and affect activities of daily living. This study investigated and compared brain activation in people with and without dizziness during different head position gait sessions using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: We included eight adults with symptoms of dizziness as the dizziness group and eight control participants without dizziness. Dizziness symptoms were evaluated using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Vertigo Symptom Scale—short form (VSS-sf). Results: Compared with the control group, we found the activation of the bilateral middle temporal gyrus (MTG) when looking forward, the activation of the left superior parietal lobule (SPL) and right angular gyrus (AG) when looking upward, the activation of the left AG and the deactivation of the right MTG when looking rightward, the activation of the right SPL when looking leftward, and the activation of the left MTG and the deactivation of the right MTG when looking downward in the dizziness group at an exploratory, uncorrected threshold (p < 0.05). Notably, while all identified regions exhibited large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 0.8), only the activation in the left SPL (channel 11) remained statistically significant after false discovery rate (FDR) correction when looking upward compared with the control group (corrected p < 0.05). Conclusions: These exploratory and hypothesis-generating findings suggest that altered cortical activation associated with multisensory integration may reflect changes in sensory reweighting during gait in individuals with dizziness under different head position conditions. Full article

Recent generative art outputs across music, literature, painting and moving-image media have attracted extensive scholarly and public interest, yet evaluations of their creative capacities are mostly limited to informal observational accounts. Drawing on neuroaesthetic reasoning, this paper puts forward a dual-layer analytical framework that differentiates two distinct modes of aesthetic reception: Alignment, defined as statistical template matching, and evocation, referring to the novel association of scattered embodied memory fragments. Building on this binary categorization, the study introduces the tentative Ring Scale taxonomy—a figurative target-shooting metaphor rather than quantitative metric—as a purely descriptive tool for stratifying relative aesthetic evocation intensity. This framework further unpacks the neurocognitive underpinnings of auditory, visual and textual aesthetic pathways, alongside their combined multimodal interactions within film and television works. It tentatively accounts for why generative systems tend to deliver more cohesive aesthetic outcomes within the auditory domain, and hypothesises a present functional limitation of current large models: these systems perform comparatively well within Alignment-driven aesthetic effects, while layered high-order evocation remains constrained by inherent structural limitations of statistical training architectures. From this diagnostic observation, three directional paradigm shifts for human–AI collaborative creation are outlined: shifting from human substitution to human–machine complementarity, shifting from exhaustive template imagery generation to targeted latent fragment elicitation, and shifting from optimising figurative Ring-tier descriptive labels to pursuing transformative aesthetic fission effects. The study frames imaginative cognition as the central driving force behind fruitful human–AI co-creation, and positions prompt engineering as the actionable operational bridge connecting human imaginative thought to machine-executable generative parameters. Three tentative prompt design tactics are then elaborated: physiological arousal framing, multisensory scenario simulation prompts, and intentional strategic blank-leaving. Additionally, this work discusses the plausible constructive functions of model hallucination phenomena when viewed through the lens of high-tier aesthetic evocation, rather than merely framing such outputs as technical errors. All judgments and tier comparisons raised throughout the paper are framed as unvalidated observational hypotheses open to empirical testing. To facilitate follow-up empirical scrutiny, the paper collates a full set of testable hypotheses derived from its theoretical reasoning and outlines feasible experimental validation pipelines, with an open call for controlled empirical research to corroborate or refine the proposed qualitative framework. Full article

Recent developments in cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, and embodied cognition have stimulated growing interest in neuroscience-informed architecture. However, despite the rapid expansion of the field, neuroarchitectural scholarship remains conceptually fragmented and methodologically diverse, and its institutional evolution, thematic structure, and translational implications have not been comprehensively synthesised. Using a narrative critical synthesis supported by translational qualitative structuring and conceptual synthesis, this study examines foundational publications, institutional documents, conference outputs, and applied studies that have shaped neuroscience-informed architecture since the early 2000s. The review identifies recurring thematic domains, including sensory perception, spatial cognition, emotion, empathy, embodied cognition, environmental behaviour, healthcare design, and evidence-based architectural practice. It indicates that ANFA-related scholarship has played a significant role in legitimising neuroscience as a relevant framework for understanding architectural experience and informing design practices in therapeutic, educational, and behavioural contexts. The review also highlights persistent methodological challenges in translating neuroscientific findings into architectural research, particularly given that architectural experience is multisensory, embodied, socially situated, and temporally dynamic. The study concludes that neuroscience-informed architecture should be understood not as a deterministic explanatory model but as a translational framework that connects neuroscientific knowledge with architectural theory and practice. This expanding evidence base calls for more ecologically valid, interdisciplinary, and methodologically rigorous research, while encouraging architects and practitioners to adopt evidence-based, human-centred design strategies that enhance health, well-being, and user experience across diverse built environments. Full article

Restorative environments have been widely associated with stress reduction, psychological recovery, and improved well-being; however, evidence regarding cognitive performance remains methodologically fragmented, particularly across sensory modalities and neurophysiological assessment approaches. This systematic review examined the relationship between restorative environments and cognitive performance, with specific attention to sensory modality, cognitive domain, and the neuroscientific and physiological methods used to assess these effects. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2000 onward were identified through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PsycINFO, with the final search conducted on 31 March 2026. Eligible studies involved healthy human participants exposed to restorative environmental conditions in built, natural, or simulated settings and included at least one objective measure of cognitive performance together with at least one central nervous system or autonomic nervous system measure. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Of the 517 records identified, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria: visual (n = 13), auditory (n = 1), thermal (n = 8), olfactory (n = 1), and multisensory (n = 3). Across the 26 included studies, study-level effect directions were predominantly mixed, comprising 13 mixed, 6 positive, 4 neutral, and 3 negative classifications. Visual studies showed the clearest recurring favorable pattern, particularly for attention-related performance and selected working-memory outcomes. Thermal effects were condition-dependent, whereas evidence for auditory, olfactory, and multisensory modalities remained limited and mixed. Overall, the strength and consistency of the findings varied substantially according to sensory modality, exposure design, and assessment method. The evidence base was uneven across sensory modalities and showed considerable heterogeneity in intervention design, exposure characteristics, cognitive tasks, and neurophysiological outcomes. These findings provide a structured, modality-specific map of how restorative environments have been linked with cognitive performance while highlighting the need for more methodologically consistent research, particularly on underexplored non-visual, tactile, and multisensory pathways. Full article

Virtual Reality is an interactive technology that creates immersive, computer-generated three-dimensional environments for therapeutic and rehabilitative purposes. In neurorehabilitation, it has been increasingly adopted to support motor, cognitive, emotional, and functional recovery via task-oriented, multisensory, and feedback-driven interventions. Originally developed for exposure-based therapies, its applications have expanded to neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and chronic pain. Its therapeutic rationale is thought to rely on mechanisms including neuroplasticity, multisensory integration, motor learning, embodiment, and adaptive feedback. Despite the fact that standardized clinical protocols are still evolving, VR is considered a complement to conventional neurorehabilitation, with advances in artificial intelligence and wearable technologies expected to further enhance its clinical applications. Full article

Gamma-band oscillations centered around 40 Hz play an important role in cortical communication, and their disruption has been documented as a neurophysiological feature of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. This narrative review synthesizes preclinical and early-phase clinical evidence for 40 Hz non-invasive brain stimulation across five delivery modalities: (1) auditory stimulation, which leverages the 40 Hz auditory steady-state response (ASSR) to probe parvalbumin-positive (PV⁺) interneuron circuits and serves as a validated neurophysiological biomarker in schizophrenia; (2) visual stimulation, using luminance or invisible spectral flicker to induce steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) and, in animal models, to activate microglial phagocytosis; (3) transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), which delivers sinusoidal sub-threshold membrane polarization at gamma frequency, with preliminary case-series evidence suggesting tau burden reduction and EEG-based biomarker changes in Alzheimer’s disease; (4) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), offering focal cortical entrainment that, when combined with tACS in phase-synchronized protocols, produces sustained gamma enhancement in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; and (5) multisensory combined stimulation, which engages multiple convergent pathways and currently represents the approach with the most promising early translational signal, including cognitive stabilization and hippocampal volume preservation in small AD trials. While single-session entrainment does not reliably yield cognitive gains, multi-week applications have shown neurophysiological and preliminary biomarker-level changes in selected populations. It should be emphasized, however, that the human evidence base remains early-phase and largely derived from small, often uncontrolled studies; 40 Hz stimulation should accordingly be regarded as a biologically plausible and well-tolerated investigational approach rather than an established therapeutic intervention. Adequately powered, randomized, sham-controlled trials are required before clinical conclusions can be drawn. Full article

The thick and mellow flavor of green tea serves as a core sensory indicator for assessing its quality grade and market value. This characteristic fundamentally represents the dynamic equilibrium of multiple flavor-contributing substances within the tea leaves, coupled with the synergistic effects of multi-sensory perception. Currently, the characteristics, chemical composition, and interactions underlying the thick and mellow flavor of green tea are the subject of intense research, yet no consensus has been reached within the academic community. This review systematically details the research progress on the chemical and quality characteristics and interactive effects of green tea’s thick flavor. First, the physiological basis for perceiving this thick and mellow flavor—the multisensory integration mechanism involving taste, smell, and oral tactile sensations—is explored. Second, evaluation methods for the thick and mellow flavor of green tea, including sensory analysis, instrumental analysis, and the integrated application of artificial intelligence technologies, are outlined. Third, the chemical basis of the thick and mellow flavor of green tea and the mechanisms of its interactions are systematically summarized. This review aims to systematically analyze the formation mechanisms and regulatory characteristics of the thick and mellow flavor of green tea, providing valuable reference for standardizing green tea flavor quality control. Full article

Historic districts are conserved through visible fabric, while locality is also sustained by everyday sounds, language, and social activity. This study examines the spatial patterning of perceived multisensory homogenization across five historic districts in Yunnan, China. We combine street-view imagery for all sites, synchronous field recordings at 340 sampling points on Ximen Street, pairwise human judgments, multimodal model scoring, and explainable machine learning. For the other four districts, auditory variables represent image-derived proxies for potential soundscape conditions, rather than measured acoustics. The results reveal a mismatch between visual preservation and auditory locality: streets that retain historic façades may still be perceived as losing distinctive soundmarks and everyday acoustic identity. In the fitted models, standardized signage, generic decoration, and consumption-oriented frontages are associated with higher visual homogenization predictions, whereas dialect-related cues, resident activity, and diverse everyday sound events are associated with stronger auditory locality. The findings support heritage governance that considers not only material appearance but also the social and acoustic conditions through which place distinctiveness is maintained. Full article

Byzantine theological education often focuses on textual abstraction, frequently failing to convey the tradition’s embodied, spatial, and liturgical depths. This mixed-methods case study examined whether immersive virtual reality (IVR) could bridge this divide. A total of thirty (n = 30) graduate theology students were invited to navigate a bespoke reconstruction of a Byzantine church—modeled on the Chora Monastery—using Meta Quest 3 headsets (Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2, standalone inside-out tracking). Following a 25 min immersive session, participants completed usability assessments, semi-structured interviews, and observational documentation. Quantitative data revealed above-average system usability (M = 72.50, SD = 5.18), significantly exceeding the standard 68-point usability benchmark, t(29) = 4.760, p < 0.001, d = 0.869, and intuitive navigation even among IVR novices (63.3% of participants completed the guided task sequence with zero errors). Through thematic analysis, six key dimensions of the experience—spatial presence, theological meaning-making, navigational ease, interaction affordances, pedagogical limitations, and technical constraints—were identified. Participants described the sense of ‘immersive presence’ as transformative and reported that it helped them correct prior spatial misconceptions and deepened their affective engagement with the liturgy. However, they also identified significant pedagogical hurdles. The lack of collaborative features was described as “theologically incomplete,” while the absence of multisensory elements—specifically scent—created a noticeable liturgical void. Furthermore, participants highlighted an unresolved tension between the experience’s devotional immersion and the critical distance required for academic study. The findings suggest that if IVR can support theological education effectively, future digital architectures may need to go beyond technical functionality to prioritize communal presence, contemplative pacing, and scaffolded criticality. This single-case, non-comparative design does not test IVR’s efficacy relative to physical site visits or 360° video. It instead establishes baseline usability and experiential evidence to inform such comparisons in future research. Full article

Drawing-centred and drawing-associated visual-representation strategies are used in anatomy and histology education, but the literature spans learner-generated drawing, guided drawing, screencasts, multisensory approaches, and model-based visual abstraction. This systematic evidence map examined their use and conducted an exploratory quantitative synthesis of objective learning outcomes among health science students. The review was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261360533) and reported according to PRISMA 2020. Searches finalized in April 2026 covered PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, CINAHL, and MEDLINE via Ovid, with backward and forward citation searching. After deduplication and supplementary searching, 1129 records were screened, 181 full-text reports were assessed, and 100 unique studies were included in the evidence map. Fifty-one studies were preliminary quantitative candidates. Six independent contrasts met the numerical meta-analysis criteria; however, only four were sufficiently aligned with drawing-centred learning to form the primary quantitative subset. Random-effects meta-analysis using Hedges g, REML estimation, and Hartung–Knapp confidence intervals yielded a positive but statistically uncertain primary estimate (g = 0.18, 95% CI −0.27 to 0.64; I² = 50.1%; τ² = 0.037; prediction interval −0.85 to 1.22). The broader six-contrast model was also positive but uncertain (g = 0.29, 95% CI −0.08 to 0.67). Certainty of evidence was very low. These analyses are exploratory rather than confirmatory because few conceptually comparable studies were available. Full article