Neurobiophilia

Despite unprecedented disconnection from nature and increased urbanisation, the brain still shows an affinity for nature. However, biophilia lacks a neuroscience foundation despite growing evidence of how the brain changes in response to the contrasting influences of urban and natural environments. To address this timely gap, this paper establishes Neurobiophilia through four objectives. First, it identifies seven neuro-needs (7NNs) and establishes their hierarchical order and interconnected outcomes. Second, it maps how natural environments fulfil each of the brain's 7NNs. Third, it explores whether climate change is turning nature into a harmful environment for the brain, specifically with respect to temperature extremes. Fourth, it examines how built environments vary in their enrichment with respect to the 7NNs. This paper highlights critical environmental enrichment challenges in natural environments caused by climate change and in built environments. The novel Neurobiophilia framework established herein identifies these gaps and provides recommendations to achieve neurosustainability through environmental enrichment that sustains adaptive brain responses throughout the lifespan.