Effects of a spaceflight analog environment on brain connectivity and behavior

Spaceflight-induced neuroplasticity in humans as measured by MRI: what do we know so far?

“…an individual with the greatest increase in connectivity strength between the motor and somatosensory cortices demonstrated least behavioral impairment following bed rest. This result, together with the findings from Roberts and colleagues, 57 suggests that changes in body orientation and unloading, as seen in HDBR, may induce compensatory neural processes, 71 a finding highly relevant for spaceflight and future space missions. Moreover, it might be the case that individual variability in neural adaptation compensates for the detrimental effects of HDBR, and spaceflight in that matter, more in some participants than in others.…”

“…71 A behavioral assessment as well as rsfMRI scans were conducted at 7 time points: two measurements pre-HDBR, three measurements during HDBR and two measurements post-HDBR. In addition, a control group of 14 subjects was added to the study, to take into account the effects of time and practice.…”

Ergonomic Challenges for Astronauts during Space Travel and the Need for Space Medicine

“…Clearly and unlike the situation on Earth with anti-depressant administration, the long term psychological effects of prolonged antidepressant medication are completely unknown. Recently a study in a head-down tilt model as an analog of spaceflight using functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging support brain neuronal network alterations which associated with changes in sensorimotor and spatial working memory performance [45]. This may suggest that alterations in neuroplasticity maybe a consequence of adaptation to simulated microgravity and further substantiate monitoring of sensorimotor performance as a part of the risk management plan.…”

Longitudinal tracking of physiological state with electromyographic signals.

“…These studies often serve to highlight an area for exploration using other tools such as fMRI [16,69]. The present case fits into this body of work by investigating another method of examining a more complex experiment whose variables are not readily analyzed.…”

“…See the review by Van Ombergen et al (2017) on spaceflight-induced neuroplasticity for an overview [15] and the work by Cassady et al (2016) for an example of the use of fMRI techniques in investigating changes in sensory network connections in the brain in simulated spaceflight environments [16].…”