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Working Memory

Working Memory

Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...

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Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Coherence between Brain Cortical Function and Neurocognitive Performance during Changed Gravity Conditions

Coherence between Brain Cortical Function and Neurocognitive Performance during Changed Gravity Conditions

Published on: May 23, 2011

Changes in working memory brain activity and task-based connectivity after long-duration spaceflight.

Ana Paula Salazar¹, Heather R McGregor¹, Kathleen E Hupfeld¹

¹Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)

|June 15, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Spaceflight alters brain connectivity, not performance, in astronauts. While spatial working memory (SWM) remained stable, changes in brain networks suggest both disruptions and adaptations occurred during the mission.

Keywords:

cognition functional MRI (fMRI)functional connectivity microgravity spatial working memory

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Space Medicine
Cognitive Science

Background:

Spaceflight poses unique challenges to the human brain.
Understanding neuroplasticity during and after space missions is crucial for astronaut health and performance.
Spatial working memory (SWM) is vital for navigation and task execution in space.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the longitudinal effects of 6-month spaceflight on brain activity and connectivity during an SWM task.
To determine if changes in brain function correlate with alterations in SWM performance.
To identify specific brain regions and networks affected by space travel.

Main Methods:

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure brain activity in 15 astronauts.
Participants performed a spatial working memory (SWM) task.
Data were collected twice pre-flight and four times post-flight to assess changes over time.

Main Results:

No significant changes in SWM performance or overall brain activity were observed.
Significant alterations in task-based brain connectivity were detected post-flight.
Reduced connectivity was noted in the superior occipital gyrus and between the left middle occipital gyrus and other brain regions.

Conclusions:

Spaceflight induces changes in brain connectivity, potentially increasing visual network modularity.
Altered connectivity patterns suggest both disruptive and compensatory neural adjustments.
While SWM performance is maintained, underlying neural network reorganization occurs during space missions.