Noise characteristics in spaceflight multichannel EEG

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Aerospace Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Crew cognitive performance is critical for space mission safety and success.
• Long-duration space missions necessitate reliable cognitive monitoring.
• Mobile electroencephalography (EEG) offers a potential solution for in-flight monitoring.
• EEG signal quality can be affected by electronic interference and movement in space.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare noise characteristics of electroencephalography (EEG) recordings in microgravity (International Space Station) versus ground-level conditions.
• To evaluate the suitability of mobile EEG systems for neurocognitive monitoring during spaceflight.

Main Methods:

• EEG data were collected both aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and on Earth's surface.
• Three EEG amplifiers and two electrode types (wet and dry) were utilized for recordings.
• Noise levels were compared between in-flight and ground-based recordings, with and without actively shielded cables.

Main Results:

• In-flight EEG recordings exhibited noise levels an order of magnitude lower than pre- and post-flight ground recordings.
• Noise levels in space (without shielded cables) were comparable to ground recordings using actively shielded cables.
• Noise characteristics of shielded ground-level EEG (wet and dry electrodes) were similar to in-flight EEG recordings.

Conclusions:

• Mobile EEG systems, particularly actively shielded dry electrode systems, demonstrate excellent potential for neurocognitive monitoring in spaceflight.
• These findings support the use of advanced EEG technology for ensuring crew cognitive function during extended space missions.
• The reduced noise in microgravity simplifies EEG data acquisition and analysis for space-based neuroscience research.