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Task Promoting behavioral health, cognitive, sensorimotor and immune function using guided imagery to augment exercise training in an isolated and confined spaceflight analog environment
Last Published:  07/30/20 02:45:15 PM (Central)
Task Book: Entry
Principal Investigator: Simpson, Richard
Short Title: Cognitive and Immune Function Using Guided Imagery
Responsible HRP Element: Human Factors and Behavioral Performance
Collaborating Org(s):
Other:
Funding Status: Active - Currently funded and in progress
Procurement Mechanism(s):
Solicited
Aims:
Given NASA's plans related to exercise for exploration mission, this study aims to address the following:

1) Primary research questions:
  • Will planned exercise regimens and proposed types of exercise and equipment be sufficient to maintain behavioral health of individuals during LDEMs?
  • Given the limited exercise options for future spacecraft vehicles, what behavioral regimens, strategies, techniques (e.g. mindfulness training) are needed to augment exercise protocols to maintain the astronaut’s motivation to exercise, promote behavioral adaptability and stress tolerance, and ensure continued self-care for crews during LDEMs?
2) Secondary research questions:
  • Given the restricted volume of future LDEM vehicles, what enhancements to the environment can support continued engagement and satisfaction for individual crewmembers who must comply with a limited exercise option?
  • As a result of study findings, should existing protocols be modified? If so, how?
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-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?
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