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Task Temporal Nature of Cognitive and Visuospatial Brain Domain Changes during Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions
Last Published:  03/26/21 03:34:00 PM (Central)
Task Book: Entry
Principal Investigator: Basner, Mathias
Short Title: Spatial Cognition
Responsible HRP Element: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance
Collaborating Org(s):
Funding Status: Active - Currently funded and in progress
Procurement Mechanism(s):
Solicited
Aims:

This study is part of the 1-Year Mission Complement of studies led by the NASA Human Research Program. This study represents an international collaboration consisting of two projects: Project A: Neurostructural and Cognitive Changes During Long Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions: Cognition (PI Basner) and Project B: Spatial Cognition and Hippocampal Plasticity During Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions: HypoCampus in i1YMP (PI Stahn)) with synergistic aims to be carried out in a joint effort by DLR/ESA and NASA. It addresses the HRP Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, HRP's requirement to demonstrate the presence or absence of unacceptable deleterious neurocognitive effects beyond six-month expeditions.  Two in scanner techniques, fMRI while performing the Cognition test battery (Part A) and a special grid cell scan and Pattern Separation Task (Part B), they will determine the biological basis for any changes in cognitive performance, with a focus on hippocampal plasticity (Part B). The specific aims of this study are:

Project A:

  1. Effects of Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions on Cognition Performance

  2. Normative Cognitive Performance Data as a Baseline for Future Long-Duration Missions

  3. Brain Structural, Functional and Connectivity Substrates of Changes in Cognitive Performance Induced by Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions

Project B:

  1. Visuospatial Brain Domain Changes Induced by Low-Earth Orbit Missions

  2. Effects of Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions on Visuo-Spatial Cognition

  3. Biological Basis of Neurocognitive Changes During Low-Earth Orbit Missions

Mappings
RiskRisk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
GapBMed-101: We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
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-104: Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
GapBMed-105: Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
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!TaskTemporal Nature of Cognitive and Visuospatial Brain Domain Changes during Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions
RiskRisk of Impaired Control of Spacecraft/Associated Systems and Decreased Mobility Due to Vestibular/Sensorimotor Alterations Associated with Spaceflight
You are here!TaskTemporal Nature of Cognitive and Visuospatial Brain Domain Changes during Long-Duration Low-Earth Orbit Missions