Visual Perception Promotes Active Health: A Psychophysiological Study of Micro Public Space Design in High-Density Urban Areas

Rapid urbanization and spatial constraints in high-density residential areas pose significant challenges to public health and well-being. This study investigates the mechanisms by which the visual environment of urban micro public spaces shapes residents’ psychophysiological responses to encourage spontaneous physical activity and advance active health. Using machine learning and semantic segmentation, 9 core visual elements across 20 micro public space scenes in high-density urban neighborhoods were quantified. An immersive virtual reality (VR) experiment was conducted, collecting synchronized multimodal psychophysiological data from 60 participants, which yielded 600 valid observations. Through an analytical framework combining Self-Organizing Map (SOM) clustering and Random Forest (RF) modeling, three distinct functional archetypes were identified: Restoration-Supporting, Activity-Promoting, and Stress-Inducing. The Activity-Promoting archetype was most effective in fostering spontaneous activity intention, characterized by a high proportion of activity areas, a moderate sky view factor, and minimal physical barriers. RF modeling further pinpointed pedestrian density, activity area ratio, and green space ratio as key visual drivers of health-promoting outcomes. Based on these findings, a “Visual Activation for Active Health” framework is proposed. It posits that moderate visual-environmental stimulation is the core mechanism for transforming passive spaces into health-promotive settings, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for the evidence-based design of healthy and sustainable urban environments.