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Prospect and Refuge in the Workplace: An Exploratory Pilot EEG Investigation of Desk Orientation and Hypervigilance Among Adults with ADHD
   

Prospect and Refuge in the Workplace: An Exploratory Pilot EEG Investigation of Desk Orientation and Hypervigilance Among Adults with ADHD

Jinoh Park, Michelle Boyoung Huh, Marjan Miri, Melissa Hoelting, Samantha Flores, Yashaswini Karagaiah Mahdi Afkhami
Architecture (Basel), v 6(2), 51
25 Mar 2026
: https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6020051
 

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url
https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6020051
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open Access Discount via Drexel Libraries Read and Publish Program 2026
Prospect-Refuge Theory ADHD neuroarchitecture EEG workplace design hypervigilance responsive interiors
Open-plan workplaces are often associated with increased sensory exposure, which may present challenges for adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a condition characterized by atypical arousal regulation and sensory sensitivity. Although the Prospect–Refuge Theory suggests that spatial configuration may influence perceived security and attentional states, objective neurophysiological evidence in workplace contexts remains limited. This exploratory pilot study employed a mixed design to examine whether desk orientation and office enclosure were associated with differences in neural activity among adults with ADHD (n = 6). Four desk configurations were tested within each office setting, while two office types (Open Office and Enclosed Private Office) were examined between participants. Neurophysiological data were collected using portable electroencephalography (EEG), and power spectral density (PSD) across canonical frequency bands was analyzed during standardized cognitive tasks. Results indicated context-dependent spatial effects. In the Open Office setting, configurations providing both outward visibility and visual backing were associated with lower beta and gamma power relative to orientations lacking these features. In the Enclosed Private Office, orientation-related differences were not statistically significant. These preliminary findings suggest that desk orientation may influence neural indicators of cognitive demand in open-plan environments. Given the small sample size, results should be interpreted cautiously but contribute initial physiological evidence to neurodiversity-informed workplace research.
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