Fear of crime revisited: analyzing the effects of urban nighttime illuminance on neural and psychological responses using recorded virtual environments and electroencephalogram data

This study employed virtual reality (VR) and electroencephalogram (EEG) techniques to investigate the relationship between nighttime illuminance, neural responses, and fear of crime. Illuminance was measured at 13 discrete time points across four narrow streets in Seoul, followed by 360-degree video capture. A total of 95 participants viewed 10 randomly selected videos depicting 40 distinct lighting scenarios via head-mounted displays while their brain activity was continuously recorded as they reported their perceived fear of crime. A cross-classified multilevel analysis revealed that higher illuminance was associated with lower fear of crime and more positive emotional states. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the lower reported fear of crime among male participants may be influenced by both social desirability bias and inherent neurophysiological differences in emotional responses to fear-inducing environments. This study also demonstrated that participants’ perceived immersion in the VR environment amplified both psychological and emotional reactions, demonstrating the effectiveness of VR in assessing environmental factors. By integrating subjective perceptions with objective neurophysiological data, this research highlights the potential of VR and EEG as effective tools for urban designers and landscape architects to evaluate the impact of lightning on public spaces. These findings contribute to the development of safer and more emotionally supportive public environments.