Publications by authors named "Elliot Smits"

The Artemis missions will establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, serving as a crucial steppingstone for future Mars exploration. Astronauts on these ambitious missions will have to successfully complete complex tasks, which will frequently involve rapid and effective decision making under unfamiliar or high-pressure conditions. Exposure to low doses of space radiation (SR) can impair key executive functions critical to decision making.

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Article Synopsis
  • Planned Moon and Mars missions pose greater health risks for astronauts due to constant exposure to space radiation (SR), unlike low Earth orbit missions.
  • Studies on female Wistar rats show that exposure to 10 cGy of SR increases risk-taking behavior and slows reaction times, indicating a decline in cognitive processing.
  • The study explores whether the effects observed in female rats also apply to other types of space radiation and to male rats, highlighting the need for further research.
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