Jennie Hankins

Interests

* Neuroarts — how artistic and aesthetic experiences affect the brain, body, and behavior
* Neuroaesthetics — how we perceive and respond to beauty, art, music, color, form, and sensory experiences
* Neuroarchitecture — how built environments influence cognition, emotion, stress, and wellbeing
* Experience design — intentionally designing meaningful, memorable, transformative experiences
* Behavioral science — understanding how environments and experiences influence human behavior
* Environmental psychology — the relationship between people and their physical surroundings
* Nervous-system-informed design — creating spaces and experiences that support regulation, restoration, and psychological safety
* Biophilic design — incorporating nature and natural systems into environments
* Multisensory design — using sound, light, scent, texture, temperature, movement, and taste intentionally
* Psychology of awe & wonder — how extraordinary experiences affect perspective, connection, and wellbeing
* Creativity & the brain — how creative expression affects cognition, emotion, identity, and resilience
* Embodied cognition — how movement, sensation, environment, and the body influence thinking and emotion
* Social neuroscience — understanding connection, belonging, empathy, synchrony, and interpersonal behavior
* Designing for belonging — creating spaces and experiences that facilitate genuine human connection
* Community & collective wellbeing — how shared creative experiences strengthen social cohesion
* Ritual & gathering design — understanding why shared rituals, ceremonies, meals, music, and gatherings can be psychologically powerful
* Hospitality as experience design — designing environments where people feel cared for, comfortable, curious, and connected
* Nature + human wellbeing — studying how natural environments affect stress, attention, creativity, and restoration
* Workplace & learning environments — designing spaces that improve creativity, collaboration, focus, and learning
* Wellness & retreat design — translating neuroscience and behavioral research into restorative experiences
* Public-space & neighborhood design — designing communities that encourage interaction, movement, belonging, and wellbeing
* Longevity + human flourishing — exploring how creativity, connection, purpose, environment, and lifestyle contribute to quality of life across the lifespan
* Research-to-practice translation — taking findings from neuroscience/psychology and actually turning them into spaces, programs, products, experiences, and communities