Isabella Bower

Research Interests

Built Environment and Design Cognitive neuroscience Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Dr Isabella Bower

Research Fellow

School of Psychology

College of Education, Behavioural and Social Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Available For Media Comment.

Dr Isabella Bower is an emerging leader in environmental cognitive neuroscience. Her research explores whether we can improve brain functioning and mental health through built environment design. Isabella received her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in architecture from Deakin University and the University of Melbourne, Australia. After completing a PhD in psychology from Deakin University, she was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the University of South Australia. Most recently, her contributions have been recognised through the Emerging Researcher Award from the Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society, and as a finalist of the NOMIS & Science Young Explorer Award.

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2024 Research Award Best PhD Thesis Award (School of Psychology) Deakin University Australia 250
2024 Research Award Best HDR Research Publication Award (Cognitive Neuroscience Unit) Deakin University Australia 250
2024 Research Award NOMIS & Science Young Explorer Award Finalist NOMIS Foundation and Science Magazine Switzerland 7300
2023 Research Award Emerging Researcher Award Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Australia 500

Date Institution name Country Title
2018 - 2023 Deakin University Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2013 - 2014 University of Melbourne Australia Master of Architecture
2009 - 2012 Deakin University Australia Bachelor of Design (Architecture) with Distinction

Year Citation
2025 Burton, B., Mellow, M. L., Bower, I., Barrie, H., Keage, H., & Smith, A. E. (2025). Public Health. Alzheimer S Dementia the Journal of the Alzheimer S Association, 21(Suppl 6), e100636.
DOI
2025 Sharman, R. L. S., Keage, H. A. D., Greaves, D., Bower, I. S., Windsor, T. D., & Hull, M. J. (2025). An Intergenerational Playgroup Program Pilot Study in South Australia: Views of Parents and Older Adults. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, online, 22 pages.
DOI
2024 Bower, I. S., Broadbent, J., Coussens, S., & Enticott, P. G. (2024). Retraction notice to “Elevated ceiling heights reduce the cognitive performance of higher-education students during exams” Journal of Environmental Psychology (2024) 102367 (Journal of Environmental Psychology (2024) 97, (S0272494424001403), (10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102367)). Journal of Environmental Psychology, 99, 102451.
DOI
2024 Bower, I. S., Broadbent, J., Coussens, S., & Enticott, P. G. (2024). Elevated ceiling heights reduce the cognitive performance of higher-education students during exams. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 97(102367), 7 pages.
DOI WoS1
2024 Kreutz, A., Sal Moslehian, A., Bower, I. S., Warner, E., & Andrews, F. J. (2024). Healthy, family-friendly apartment kitchen design: a study of practice in Melbourne, Australia. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 39(3), 1583-1600.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2023 Parrella, N. F., Hill, A. T., Enticott, P. G., Barhoun, P., Bower, I. S., & Ford, T. C. (2023). A systematic review of cannabidiol trials in neurodevelopmental disorders. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 230(173607), 1-15.
DOI Scopus21 WoS18 Europe PMC14
2023 Bower, I. (2023). How do our environments affect our minds?. Science, 382(6671), 657.
DOI
2023 Bower, I. S., Hill, A. T., & Enticott, P. G. (2023). Functional brain connectivity during exposure to the scale and color of interior built environments. Human Brain Mapping, 44(2), 447-457.
DOI Scopus19 WoS16 Europe PMC3
2022 Bower, I. S., Clark, G. M., Tucker, R., Hill, A. T., Lum, J. A. G., Mortimer, M. A., & Enticott, P. G. (2022). Enlarged interior built environment scale modulates high-frequency EEG oscillations. eNeuro, 9(5), 1-16.
DOI Scopus16 Europe PMC5
2022 Bower, I. S., Clark, G. M., Tucker, R., Hill, A. T., Lum, J. A. G., Mortimer, M. A., & Enticott, P. G. (2022). Built environment color modulates autonomic and EEG indices of emotional response. Psychophysiology, 59(12, article no. e14121), 1-17.
DOI Scopus43 WoS36 Europe PMC14
2019 Bower, I., Tucker, R., & Enticott, P. G. (2019). Impact of built environment design on emotion measured via neurophysiological correlates and subjective indicators: a systematic review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 66, 1-11.
DOI Scopus202 WoS164

Year Citation
2025 Smith, A. E., Bower, I. S., Fabiani, M., & Karayanidis, F. (2025). Environmental enrichment in cognitive and brain aging. In Source details - Title: Reference module in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology (Vol. i3, pp. 528-539). US: Elsevier.
DOI
2024 Smith, A. E., Bower, I. S., Fabiani, M., & Karayanidis, F. (2024). Environmental enrichment in cognitive and brain aging. In Encyclopedia of the Human Brain Second Edition Volumes 1 5 (pp. V3-V3-539).
DOI Scopus2

Year Citation
2024 Bower, I. (2024). From laboratory to real world: The impact of built environment scale in controlled and naturalistic settings. In COGNITIVE PROCESSING Vol. 25 (pp. S8). SPRINGER HEIDELBERG.

Courses I teach

  • BEHL 1004 Psychology 1B (2025)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor Addressing Dementia Risk in Rural Australia - Doctorate Full Time Ms Britt Jane Burton

Date Role Membership Country
2023 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture -
2022 - ongoing Member Society for Neuroscience -
2021 - ongoing Member Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society -

Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
2025 - ongoing Board Member Brain and Environment University of South Australia Australia

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