[Standardised environmental conditions for neurocognitive laboratories].
OBJECTIVE
The exploration of neurocognition in neurology departments has gone a long way from the traditional psychometric tests to the present day use of high technology methods in cognitive neurophysiology, as is the case of event related potentials. Given the increased sensitivity of these procedures, it has become absolutely essential to control the influence of environmental variables that may exert non controlled effects on the patient s response. Many neurocognitive laboratories have been set up in premises in which the spatial layout and the environmental characteristics have been determined beforehand and consequently technical staff has had to prepare these rooms in an empirical way. This gives rise to two types of drawbacks: interferences in the patient s concentration and low reproducibility of the results in other laboratories.


METHODS
In this paper we present a proposed set of standardised conditions for a neurocognitive laboratory from an architectural perspective, and more specifically with regard to interior design. We outline the functional design of the premises, the conditions for workplaces where VDU computers (Video Display Units) are used and where psychometric evaluation is carried out. We also discuss the criteria to be followed when placing the laboratory within a hospital, lighting parameters, air conditioning and suggestions about psychological input.


CONCLUSIONS
Although we do not seek to establish a rigid set of norms, these conditions will raise the quality of evaluations and facilitate the comparison of results because of the reduced variability from the environment.
Matamoros-Tuma
M
M
Departamento de Diseño. Instituto Superior Politécnico José Antonio Echevarría. Facultad de Arquitectura, Marianao, Cuba. mabel@arquitectura.ispjae.edu.cu
Alvarez-González
M
M
D001108:Architecture; D003201:Computers; D004779:Environment Design; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008027:Light; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012718:Set, Psychology; D017132:Workplace