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Multi-connectomics underpin emotional dysfunction in mouse exposed to simulated space composite environment
Rong Liang1,2, Tianyu Fang1, Ling Wang1,2
1Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
Translational Psychiatry
|October 6, 2025
Summary
Simulated spaceflight impacts brain structure and function, affecting emotional behaviors. This research offers insights into maintaining astronaut brain health during long-duration space missions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Space Medicine
- Genomics
Background:
- Long-duration space exploration necessitates maintaining astronaut emotional well-being.
- Understanding the neurobiological effects of spaceflight is crucial for mission success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To dynamically characterize the mouse brain connectome under simulated spaceflight conditions.
- To investigate the impact of extreme environments on emotional behaviors, brain networks, and neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral phenotyping
- Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- In vivo calcium imaging
- Brain-wide genomics
Main Results:
- Prolonged exposure to a simulated space composite environment (SSCE) reduced gray matter volume, especially in the prefrontal cortex.
- SSCE disrupted multi-scale functional connectivity and altered the brain's functional gradient, impacting emotional behaviors.
- Neural activity in the medial prefrontal cortex showed exposure-time-dependent changes, linked genetically to synaptic function and ion channels.
Conclusions:
- Extreme environments significantly impact emotional behaviors, brain networks, and neural activity.
- Findings provide insights for developing interventions to preserve brain integrity during extended space missions.
