Neuroarchitecture Assessment: An Overview and Bibliometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Architecture
• Bibliometrics
• Science Mapping

Background:

• Research at the intersection of architecture and neuroscience has expanded significantly since the 1990s.
• A gap exists in comprehensive reviews analyzing the evolution and landscape of neuroarchitecture literature.
• The multidisciplinary nature of neuroarchitecture presents challenges in managing and understanding its research scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of neuroarchitecture research over three decades.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of the field's research landscape, key themes, and influential contributors.
• To map the intellectual base and evolution of neuroarchitecture research.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 295 publications on neuroarchitecture.
• Utilized VOSviewer for science mapping, including term co-citation, co-occurrence, and bibliographic coupling analyses.
• Employed SciMAT for analyzing the evolution of the intellectual base and identifying key contributing themes.

Main Results:

• The field has evolved from a narrow focus to a more diversified scope, reflecting the multifaceted nature of neuroarchitecture.
• A substantial growth in the intellectual base of neuroarchitecture research was observed, particularly from 2016 onwards.
• Significant advancements in theoretical and methodological approaches have occurred, with a notable shift towards keywords such as electroencephalography (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and virtual reality.

Conclusions:

• Neuroarchitecture is a rapidly evolving, diversifying field with a growing research base.
• The study highlights a paradigm shift towards advanced neuroimaging and immersive technologies in understanding the architecture-brain relationship.
• This bibliometric analysis provides a foundational understanding for future research directions in neuroarchitecture.