Rhythms of the Brain, Body, and Environment: A Neuroscientific Perspective on Atmospheres

Atmospheres enjoy ambiguity beyond the constraints of words. While the theory of atmosphere is well-established, its scientific testing remains challenging due to this ambiguity. Focusing on the effect of atmospheres, I discuss nonconscious processes and rhythms in the body and brain concerning behavior and atmosphere, arguing that the body’s active engagement with the environment is crucial in our experience. Our sensory suppression of the atmosphere is actively used to adapt our
behavior, making it a phenomenologically rich process. I conclude by providing a neuroscientific hypothesis on the mechanisms behind the enacted atmosphere and its impact on human cognition.