Space and cognition: the measurement of behavioral functions during a 6-day space mission

We measured nonspecific (attention, mental flexibility, psychomotor speed) and visuospatial cognitive processing in a single case study during a 6-d visit on the Russian orbital complex MIR, using computer-based psychometric tasks. Reaction times and accuracy scores showed only minor, nonsignificant changes between preflight, flight, and postflight assessments. These results suggest that several behavioral functions, among them complex visuospatial processing skills, remain essentially intact on short space visits, provided that the performing subject experiences no symptoms of space motion sickness or other physical impairments. Computerized psychometric tasks are a sensitive and flexible tool to measure behavioral functions in space life sciences.