Neuro-Spatial Allostasis: Architectural Evaluation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Through the Clinician's Experiential-Cognitive Lens
Ponpandiyan c k, Dr. Anitha suseelan, Dr.Shilpa BM, Dr. Vishnu Prakash, Dr. Harshalatha AP
1 Student, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
2Head of Department, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
3Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru
4Assistant Professor, School of Architecture, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru,
5Associate Professor, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, harshalatha.ap@christuniversity.in
Abstract - Contemporary psychiatric architecture has historically prioritized custodial containment and surveillance of the patient, often resulting in static, sterile environments referred as "homeostasis" the maintenance of a stable state (Foucault, 1975; Golembiewski, 2010). However, current neuroscientific literature on psychological trauma, specifically Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suggests that the dysregulated brain requires "allostasis" the ability to achieve stability through adaptation and change (McEwen, 1998; Sterling, 2004). This dissociation between static architectural forms and dynamic neurobiological needs contributes to "allostatic overload" in patients, manifesting as chronic stress, aggression, and impaired decision-making capacity (Sternberg, 2009).
This review paper critically examines the intersection of Neuro-Architecture, Trauma-Informed Design (TID), and Clinical Phenomenology (Mallgrave, 2010; Goldhagen, 2017). By analyzing existing literature through a "Theoretical Triangulation" of neuroscience, psychology, and architectural theory, it identifies a critical gap: the exclusion of the Healthcare Professional's "Experiential-Cognitive Lens." The paper argues that architectural dissonance disrupts the "Therapeutic Alliance," resulting in "Compassion Fatigue" in clinicians (Figley, 1995), hindering their ability to co-regulate and also allostatic overload on its patients. The review concludes by proposing a conceptual Model for "Neuro-Spatial Allostasis," advocating adaptive spatial affordances as a pivotal design strategy.
Key Words: Neuro-Architecture, Neuro-Spatial Allostasis, Trauma-Informed Design, Theoretical Triangulation, Therapeutic Alliance, Compassion Fatigue, Phenomenology.
