Spaceflight experience alters human brain structure, posing challenges for long-term missions Spaceflight BrainChanges MissionDuration Brain VentricleExpansion InSpace SpaceBrainStudy Neuroplasticity Astronauts SpaceNeuroscience SciReports
By Dr. Chinta SidharthanJun 12 2023Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers evaluate changes in brain grey matter and ventricular volumes, extracellular free water distribution, and other parameters to understand the changes in brain morphology induced by spaceflight.
Recent studies have also reported that the upward shift imposed on the brain during spaceflight alters the morphology of the human brain by narrowing sulci and cortical crowding. This causes the grey matter volume to increase in the top portion of the brain and decrease near the base of the brain, accompanied by intracranial fluid displacement, including displacement of cerebrospinal fluid .
About the study In the present study, researchers used magnetic resonance imaging data from 30 astronauts who differed significantly in spaceflight experience parameters, including mission duration ranging from two weeks to one year, previous experience ranging from no missions to three missions, and time elapsed since their last mission.
Related StoriesThe changes in grey matter volume, free water fractional volume, free-water corrected indices for white matter diffusion, and ventricular volume were analyzed at the group level for changes pre- and post-flight. These analyses were adjusted according to sex, age at launch, duration of the mission, and the interval between the landing and the MRI scan post-flight. The changes in the brain structure parameters were also compared between experienced and novice crewmembers.
The free water fractional volume increased along the right lateral ventricle edges in novice astronauts after spaceflight, while in those who had been on two or more missions, it was seen to decrease in the same region. This suggests that in astronauts who have undergone ventricular expansion during previous missions and have had a slow recovery after spaceflight, the ventricular expansion and reabsorption of CSF after missions are significantly reduced.
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