Mohamed Hesham Khalil: Architectural enrichment for hippocampal neurogenesis: Layout spatial complexity and stairs-based physical activity
Supervisor: Professor Koen Steemers
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Research overview:
Daily newborn neurons in the adult human brain’s hippocampal dentate gyrus persist until the tenth decade of life. Neurogenesis is vital for cognitive function, mood stability, stress-resilience and mental health.
This thesis is the first to explain environmental enrichment for neurogenesis in humans. Drawing on decades of rodent-based research, I explore and explain two innovative architectural enrichment mechanisms for humans: (i) how verticality through stairs increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) through voluntary physical activity to nurture neurogenesis much like how running wheels are effective in rodent cages, and (ii) how horizontal spatial complexity is a hippocampal-neuroprotective and neurogenesis-predictive layout design assessment tool through cognitive stimulation.
Mohamed’s research aligns with his theory of Neurosustainability, aiming to enrich the environment to support the neuroplastic nature of the human brain.
Biography:
Mohamed is an architect, researcher in neuroscience, and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Cambridge Trust and the Jameel Education Foundation.
Shortly after starting his PhD, Mohamed got nominated to be a member of Sigma Xi, an invitation-only honorary society founded in 1886.
Prior to attending Cambridge, Mohamed completed a graduate program at Harvard University ES and an interdisciplinary Master’s of Science degree in Architecture and Applied Neuroscience at the American University in Cairo. Proactively publishing since his bachelor’s thesis, Mohamed has published over +10 peer-reviewed articles to date, only as part of his PhD.
Website:
Selected publications:
- Environmental enrichment: A systematic review on the effect of a changing spatial complexity on hippocampal neurogenesis and plasticity in rodents, with considerations for translation to urban and built environments for humans. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1368411
- Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010052
- Environmental Affordance for Physical Activity, Neurosustainability, and Brain Health: Quantifying the Built Environment’s Ability to Sustain BDNF Release by Reaching Metabolic Equivalents (METs). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14111133
- The BDNF-Interactive Model for Sustainable Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Humans: Synergistic Effects of Environmentally-Mediated Physical Activity, Cognitive Stimulation, and Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312924