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一项由国际研究团队合作完成的综述表明，现代建筑与照明设计可能对大脑造成生理负担。尽管人们常从美学角度看待建成环境，作者提出人类大脑在进化上仍偏好自然界的模式。当我们处于以重复、人工或高对比度图案为特征的现代环境时，视觉皮层会被迫比应有的情形更费力地工作。这种代谢过载可能是许多人在当代环境中出现头痛、眼疲劳和不适感的原因之一。

问题的根源在于大脑处理视觉输入的方式。自然环境通常遵循可预测的数学规律，视觉系统对此处理得游刃有余。相反，现代人造结构——如条纹墙纸、网格状立面以及闪烁的荧光灯或 LED 灯——与这些自然模式相距甚远。大脑在面对此类刺激时难以高效编码，导致视觉皮层神经活动和耗氧量上升。研究者认为，这会触发一种生物学上的"报警"反应，表现为身体不适，极端情况下甚至可能诱发模式敏感性癫痫患者的发作。

部分人群对这种视觉压力尤其敏感，包括神经多样性个体（如自闭症、 ADHD 或阅读障碍者），以及患有慢性偏头痛、焦虑或抑郁的人。研究者指出，这些人可能难以抑制过度活跃的神经信号，可能与 GABA 等神经递质的不平衡有关。由于其体内"调光开关"功能较弱，他们会比一般人更容易受到现代世界中重复且明亮的视觉输入的影响，且不以具体诊断为限。

在各种诱因中，光闪烁——尤其是现代 LED 系统的闪烁——是导致不适的主要因素之一。许多 LED 表面看似发出稳定光线，但其快速的脉宽调光会产生肉眼不可见但生理可感知的闪烁。在快速眼球运动时，这种闪烁可形成"幻影阵列"般的重影，特别容易诱发偏头痛患者的不适。同样，现代汽车大灯的高频调制也会给对向或同向驾驶者造成强烈干扰，说明即便是细微的技术选型也能实质性影响人的舒适度。

为缓解这些问题，研究者建议在建筑与城市规划中进行调整：减少高对比度图案，避免使用如条纹吸声板等干扰性元素，从而使空间对更多人更友好。同时，在个人层面上，精确染色镜片或彩色阅读覆盖等干预手段已显示出帮助调节对视觉噪声敏感性的潜力。作者希望，通过承认这些不适有大脑层面可测量的生理基础，而非单纯的主观抱怨，能促使在设计上更多地考虑生物学需求。 A collaborative review by an international team of researchers suggests that modern architectural and lighting design may be physically straining our brains. While the built environment is often viewed through the lens of aesthetics, the authors hypothesize that the human brain remains evolutionarily tuned to the patterns found in nature. When we are placed in modern surroundings characterized by repetitive, artificial, or high-contrast patterns, our visual cortex is forced to work significantly harder than it should. This metabolic overload is proposed as a potential cause for the headaches, eye strain, and general discomfort that many people report in contemporary settings.

The fundamental issue lies in the way our brains process visual input. Natural environments generally follow predictable mathematical patterns that the human visual system handles with ease. Conversely, modern human-made structures, such as striped wallpaper, grid-like facades, and flickering fluorescent or LED lights, deviate sharply from these natural patterns. When the brain encounters these stimuli, it struggles to encode the information efficiently. This leads to increased neural activity and oxygen demand in the visual cortex, which the researchers believe triggers a biological alarm system, manifesting as physical distress or, in extreme cases, neurological episodes like seizures for those with pattern-sensitive epilepsy.

Certain groups appear particularly vulnerable to this visual stress, including individuals who are neurodivergent, such as those with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia, as well as people who suffer from chronic migraines, anxiety, or depression. The researchers suggest that these individuals may have a reduced ability to suppress overactive neural signals, possibly due to imbalances in chemical messengers like GABA. Because their internal "dimmer switches" are less effective, they are disproportionately impacted by the repetitive and bright visual inputs of the modern world, regardless of their specific diagnosis.

Among the various offenders, light flicker—especially in modern LED systems—stands out as a major contributor to discomfort. Although many LEDs appear to provide steady light, their rapid pulse-width dimming can create invisible, yet physiologically detectable, flicker. This can result in a "phantom array" of ghost images during rapid eye movements, which is especially problematic for those prone to migraines. Similarly, high-frequency modulations in modern car headlights can cause significant distress for other motorists, highlighting how even minor technical design choices can have tangible impacts on human comfort.

To mitigate these issues, the researchers argue for a shift in how we approach architecture and urban planning. They suggest that reducing high-contrast patterns and avoiding disruptive elements like striped acoustic panels can make spaces more accessible for everyone. Furthermore, on an individual level, interventions such as precision-tinted lenses or colored reading overlays have shown promise in helping people manage their sensitivity to visual noise. By acknowledging that these physical discomforts have a valid, measurable basis in the brain rather than being purely subjective complaints, the authors hope to encourage more thoughtful design that aligns with our biological needs.