Article Synopsis
- The study examined how spaceflight affects astronauts' mental performance and brain activity over a six-month mission to the International Space Station.
- Results showed that astronauts had slower reaction times and made more mistakes while in space, with brain activity indicating reduced attention.
- This research is the first to show that astronauts do not adapt to these cognitive impairments over time in space, highlighting the need for further studies as we prepare for future deep space missions.
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Article Abstract
Although human adaptation to spaceflight has been studied for decades, little is known about its long-term effects on brain and behavior. The present study investigated visuospatial performance and associated electrophysiological responses in astronauts before, during, and after an approximately half-year long mission to the International Space Station. Here we report findings demonstrating that cognitive performance can suffer marked decrements during spaceflight. Astronauts were slower and more error-prone on orbit than on Earth, while event-related brain potentials reflected diminished attentional resources. Our study is the first to provide evidence for impaired performance during both the initial (~ 8 days) and later (~ 50 days) stages of spaceflight, without any signs of adaptation. Results indicate restricted adaptability to spaceflight conditions and calls for new research prior to deep space explorations.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8100295 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88938-6 | DOI Listing |
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