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Brains in Space – How does space affect the human brain?
 
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Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2021-07-01
 
 
Final revision date: 2021-08-16
 
 
Acceptance date: 2021-08-17
 
 
Publication date: 2025-11-26
 
 
Corresponding author
Arkadiusz Kołodziej   

Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Żwirki i Wigury 61, 02-091, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Issue Rehabil. Orthop. Neurophysiol. Sport Promot. 2021;36
 
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SUMMARY Nowadays more and more people and international companies are interested in Human Spaceflights. In this review the negative effects from the space radiation, microgravity and the factor of isolation on the central nervous system will be described in relation to the space neuroscience and the relevant studies examined. Space radiation can damage neuronal connections with both acute and chronic effects, manifested as altered cognitive function, reduced motor function, and behavioral changes. Moreover, some astronauts report a condition known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). The brain scans performed upon those astronauts, who came back from space travel suggest that due to reduced gravity conditions the brain and the fluids in human body shift upwards, which increases pressure in the skull and may result in optic-nerve swelling that causes blurred vision. Another interesting part of space neuroscience is the research of structural neuroplasticity. A study conducted on cosmonauts revealed an increase in the neuronal tissue of sensorimotor structures responsible for movement coordination. In addition to the space radiation and microgravity, long-term confinement also affects microstructure of the brain white matter, which was proven in the study that used DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging). To conclude, to continue understanding the risks posed by spaceflight to astronauts’ health research in the field of space neuroscience is important. In addition, the acquired insight could be relevant for terrestrial vestibular patients, patients with neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the elderly population, coping with neurological deficits.
ISSN:2300-0767
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