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Task CBS Brain Regions Functional Modular Structure & Connections of Relevance to Operationally-Relevant Performance (RFP)
Last Published:  07/29/22 01:33:24 PM (Central)
Task Book: Entry Unavailable
Principal Investigator: TBD
Short Title: CBS Cortical Reorganization (RFP)
Responsible HRP Element: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance
Collaborating Org(s):
Human Health Countermeasures (HHC) Element
Space Radiation (SR) Element
Funding Status: Planned-Funded - Task expected to be within budget
Procurement Mechanism(s):
Solicited
Aims:
Specific focal impacts on brain regions are important for us to understand since cortical organization reveals a “between-module connectivity” that when disrupted, is associated with widespread cognitive dysfunction. This underscores the  importance of conceptualizing Brain Performance Pathways (BPP) and the role of a modular structure in enabling brain processes that support a wide range of operationally-relevant behaviors. This also potentially relates to the putative role of "Cognitive Reserve" and potential for a measures of cortical organization to serve as a "biomarker." This is evidenced by research that demonstrates an “intelligence” relationship that is revealed with cortical organization, with those scoring higher on IQ tests showing smaller functional connectivity changes between “resting state” and “task performance states” (suggesting more efficient adaptation to task demands). Given the different sensitivities of brain tissue to both types and dosages of radiation, stress, and altered gravity, we need to assess the potential role of the connectivity patterns as representative of BPPs to assess differential vulnerabilities to modular networks and just as importantly, determine how a more modular brain network may potentiate CMs (e.g., the potential for up-regulation in neurotrophic factors that have been associated with greater exercise-related changes in brain connectivity). 
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Mappings
RiskRisk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
GapBMed-102: Given exposures to spaceflight hazards (space radiation, isolation), how do we identify individual susceptibility, monitor molecular/biomarkers and acceptable thresholds, and validate behavioral health and CNS/neurological/neuropsychological performance measures and domains of relevance to exploration class missions?
GapBMed-103: What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
GapBMed-107: What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
GapBMed-108: Given each crewmember will experience multiple spaceflight hazards simultaneously, we need to identify and characterize the potential additive, antagonistic, or synergistic impacts of multiple stressors (e.g., space radiation, altered gravity, isolation, altered immune, altered sleep) on crew health and/or CNS/ cognitive functioning to develop threshold limits and validate countermeasures for any identified adverse crew health and/or operationally-relevant performance outcomes.
You are here!TaskCBS Brain Regions Functional Modular Structure & Connections of Relevance to Operationally-Relevant Performance (RFP)
RiskRisk of Altered Sensorimotor/Vestibular Function Impacting Critical Mission Tasks
You are here!TaskCBS Brain Regions Functional Modular Structure & Connections of Relevance to Operationally-Relevant Performance (RFP)