Between 2021 and 2025, an international team coordinated by the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon developed eMOTIONAL Cities – a project designed to provide scientific evidence on how urban space influences citizens’ mental health.

In Copenhagen, Lisbon, London, as well as Lansing (Michigan), a series of experiments used different technologies to monitor brain activity, heart rate variability and other physiological responses to diverse urban environments. In Lisbon, the Gulbenkian gardens were one of the study sites, confirming what many earlier studies had already suggested: being surrounded by green space can help regulate stress levels, improve focus and contribute to emotional well-being.

During the session, participants will:

• Discuss the concept of regenerative environments and the principles of Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Recovery Theory.
• Take part in a guided garden experience, wearing sensors to record physiological responses (stress, skin conductance, heart rate, temperature) and patterns of visual attention.
• Visualise and interpret the data collected in a collaborative and exploratory way.
• Reflect on the potential of green spaces to promote mental health and well-being in an educational context.