Monitoring the Impact of Spaceflight on the Human Brain

Extended exposure to radiation, microgravity, and isolation during space exploration has significant physiological, structural, and psychosocial effects on astronauts, and particularly their central nervous system. To date, the use of brain monitoring techniques adopted on Earth in pre/post-spacefli...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Life (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-07, Vol.12 (7), p.1060
Main Authors: Dinatolo, Michael F., Cohen, Luchino Y.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analog computers
Astronauts
Brain
Brain cancer
brain monitoring
Central nervous system
Computed tomography
Deep space
EEG
Electroencephalography
Exploration
Function analysis
Infrared spectra
Infrared spectroscopy
Intracranial pressure
isolation
Magnetic resonance imaging
Medical imaging
Mental disorders
Mental health
Microgravity
Near infrared radiation
Neuroimaging
Physiological effects
Physiology
Positron emission
Positron emission tomography
Radiation
Radiation effects
Review
Sleep
Space exploration
Space flight
Tomography
Travel
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Summary:Extended exposure to radiation, microgravity, and isolation during space exploration has significant physiological, structural, and psychosocial effects on astronauts, and particularly their central nervous system. To date, the use of brain monitoring techniques adopted on Earth in pre/post-spaceflight experimental protocols has proven to be valuable for investigating the effects of space travel on the brain. However, future (longer) deep space travel would require some brain function monitoring equipment to be also available for evaluating and monitoring brain health during spaceflight. Here, we describe the impact of spaceflight on the brain, the basic principles behind six brain function analysis technologies, their current use associated with spaceflight, and their potential for utilization during deep space exploration. We suggest that, while the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computerized tomography (CT) is limited to analog and pre/post-spaceflight studies on Earth, electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and ultrasound are good candidates to be adapted for utilization in the context of deep space exploration.
ISSN:2075-1729
2075-1729
DOI:10.3390/life12071060