VR·EEG 기반 집중력 증진을 위한 실내공간 바닥면적과 천장높이의 상관관계에 관한 연구

초록

(Background and Purpose) Research in environmental psychology and neuroscience has consistently shown that the built environment can significantly influence human emotional states as well as cognitive and behavioral responses. Given that modern individuals spend approximately 87% of their day in indoor spaces, space is a critical factor in determining cognitive efficiency and emotional stability. From this perspective, there is a clear need to design spaces that promote positive emotional states and support both attentional concentration and emotional stability (rest). Accordingly, this study aims to investigate, from a neuroarchitectural perspective, the effects of indoor floor area and ceiling height on occupants' concentration. Specifically, the study seeks to derive the optimal ceiling height for each floor area to enhance concentration, analyze the correlation between the two variables, and identify differences in ceiling conditions that induce rest versus concentration—ultimately establishing these findings as a quantitative model. (Method) This study established a virtual indoor space implemented through VR(Virtual Reality) technology as the experimental environment. While subjects wore an HMD (Head-Mounted Display) and experienced the space, RSMR (Relative Sensorimotor Rhythm) activity—closely associated with concentration—was quantitatively measured using EEG equipment. Based on the collected data, statistical analysis was conducted to verify the correlation and interaction effects between floor area and ceiling height, and the optimal ceiling height for each floor area at which concentration is maximized was derived. Finally, a quantitative predictive model explaining the relationship between these spatial components was established. (Results) Analysis based on median RSMR values revealed that in small- and medium-scale spaces, as floor area increased to 9, 36, and 81m², the optimal ceiling height also increased sequentially to 2.4, 3.0, and 3.6 m, confirming a close correlation between the two variables. However, in the large-scale space of 144 m², the optimal ceiling height rose sharply to 6.0 m, and beyond this area, an irregular trend emerged along with a weakened correlation. Notably, the threshold area (144m²) at which this shift occurred was smaller than the threshold associated with perceived relaxation (225 m²). The resulting predictive model, valid within the range 9㎡≤A≤144㎡, was established as: H=0.4 x+1.2 (where H denotes ceiling height and A denotes floor area). (Conclusions) This study quantified the effects of the interaction between floor area and ceiling height on occupants' concentration, thereby exploring the feasibility of neuroscience-based architectural design. The derived equation model offers concrete ceiling height guidelines for maximizing concentration within a specific valid range. Its significance lies in moving beyond experience-dependent design approaches to provide a foundation for design grounded in neuroarchitectural data, offering both academic and practical value.

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