Sacred Buildings and Brain Performance: The Effect of Sultan Hasan Mosque on Brain Waves of its Users

Abstract

A sacred building is defined as a comfortable place that holds certain qualities similar to those originated from nature in harmony with its surroundings. The sacredness quality, though, usually pertains to Religious Buildings that allow for human comfort and a unique state of mind. This paper investigates the effect of sacred buildings on human brain. It concentrates on measurements of brain waves during the presence of the user at certain Paths (coordinates) in these buildings. The variation and intensity of these measurements indicate the effect of “sacredness” as a quality on the user along his/ her journey through the building. This could be used in architecture as evidence of the presence of the sacred quality; and to study the intensity of the positive effect of these buildings. This process is based on a scientific experiment to determine whether or not buildings affect the brain wave frequencies of users, and, measures these effects in terms of Brain Wave Frequency Charts through EEG Devices.