Changes in the central nervous system during long-duration space flight: implications for neuro-imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Space Medicine
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Long-duration space flight poses risks to the human central nervous system (CNS).
• Previous research primarily focused on short-term space flight effects on the CNS.
• Environmental factors in space, including weightlessness, radiation, and electromagnetic fields, may impact CNS structure and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential functional and morphological effects of long-duration space flight on the human CNS.
• To explore the utility of current neuroimaging techniques in studying these CNS changes.
• To assess the implications for future interplanetary missions and space habitats.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing research on CNS changes during and after space flight.
• Discussion of known CNS alterations: neurovestibular, fluid shifts, sensory perception, proprioception, psychological, and cognitive changes.
• Exploration of neuroimaging techniques: Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Main Results:

• Space flight can induce neurovestibular disturbances, cephalic fluid shifts, altered sensory perception, proprioception, psychological, and cognitive changes.
• Animal studies indicate changes in neural cytoarchitecture plasticity, hypothalamic metabolism, and neurotransmitter concentrations.
• Neuroimaging advancements enable in vivo investigation of human brain morphology, metabolism, and neurochemistry.

Conclusions:

• Understanding long-term CNS effects is crucial for human space exploration.
• Neuroimaging techniques offer powerful tools to investigate space flight-induced CNS alterations.
• Further research is needed to mitigate potential detrimental CNS changes for extended space missions.