Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-06-2016 | Short Communication

Cortical reorganization in an astronaut’s brain after long-duration spaceflight

Authors: Athena Demertzi, Angelique Van Ombergen, Elena Tomilovskaya, Ben Jeurissen, Ekaterina Pechenkova, Carol Di Perri, Liudmila Litvinova, Enrico Amico, Alena Rumshiskaya, Ilya Rukavishnikov, Jan Sijbers, Valentin Sinitsyn, Inessa B. Kozlovskaya, Stefan Sunaert, Paul M. Parizel, Paul H. Van de Heyning, Steven Laureys, Floris L. Wuyts

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 5/2016

Abstract

To date, hampered physiological function after exposure to microgravity has been primarily attributed to deprived peripheral neuro-sensory systems. For the first time, this study elucidates alterations in human brain function after long-duration spaceflight. More specifically, we found significant differences in resting-state functional connectivity between motor cortex and cerebellum, as well as changes within the default mode network. In addition, the cosmonaut showed changes in the supplementary motor areas during a motor imagery task. These results highlight the underlying neural basis for the observed physiological deconditioning due to spaceflight and are relevant for future interplanetary missions and vestibular patients.

Available only for authorised users

Brandt T, Schautzer F, Hamilton DA, Brüning R, Markowitsch HJ, Kalla R, Darlington C, Smith P, Strupp M (2005) Vestibular loss causes hippocampal atrophy and impaired spatial memory in humans. Brain 128(11):2732–2741. doi:10.1093/brain/awh617 CrossRefPubMed

Buckey JC (2006) Space physiology. Oxford University Press, New York

De La Torre G (2014) Cognitive neuroscience in space. Life 4:281–294CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Heine L, Soddu A, Gómez F, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Tshibanda L, Thonnard M, Charland-Verville V, Kirsch M, Laureys S, Demertzi A (2012) Resting state networks and consciousness: alterations of multiple resting state network connectivity in physiological, pharmacological, and pathological consciousness states. Front Psychol. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00295 PubMedPubMedCentral

Kanas N, Manzey D (2008) Space psychology and psychiatry, 2nd edn. Springer, Dordrecht

Kornilova L, Naumov I, Azarov K, Sagalovitch V (2012) Gaze control and vestibular-cervical-ocular responses after prolonged exposure to microgravity. Aviat Space Environ Med 83(12):1123–1134CrossRefPubMed

Kozlovskaya IB, Kreidich YV, Oganov VS, Koserenko OP (1981) Pathophysiology of motor functions in prolonged manned space flights. Acta Astronaut 8:1059–1072. doi:10.1016/0094-5765(81)90079-5 CrossRefPubMed

Lopez C, Lacour M, Ahmadi A El, Magnan J, Borel L (2007) Changes of visual vertical perception: a long-term sign of unilateral and bilateral vestibular loss. Neuropsychologia 45(9):2025–2037. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.02.004 CrossRefPubMed

Lopez C, Bachofner C, Mercier M, Blanke O (2009) Gravity and observer’s body orientation influence the visual perception of human body postures. J Vis 9(5):11–14. doi:10.1167/9.5.1 CrossRef

Martuzzi R, Ramani R, Qiu M, Shen X, Papademetris X, Constable RT (2011) A whole-brain voxel based measure of intrinsic connectivity contrast reveals local changes in tissue connectivity with anesthetic without a priori assumptions on thresholds or regions of interest. NeuroImage 58(4):1044–1050. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.06.075 CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

McDonald PV, Basdogan C, Bloomberg JJ, Layne CS (1996) Lower limb kinematics during treadmill walking after space flight: implications for gaze stabilization. Exp Brain Res 112(2):325–334. doi:10.1007/BF00227650 CrossRefPubMed

Monti MM, Vanhaudenhuyse A, Coleman MR, Boly M, Pickard JD, Tshibanda L, Owen AM, Laureys S (2010) Willful modulation of brain activity in disorders of consciousness. N Engl J Med. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0905370 PubMed

Moore S, Clément G, Dai M, Raphan T, Solomon D, Cohen B (2003) No ocular and perceptual responses to linear acceleration in microgravity: alterations in otolith function on the COSMOS and Neurolab flights. J Vestib Res 12(4–6):377–393

Paloski WH, Reschke MF, Black FO, Doxey DD, Harm DL (1992) Recovery of postural equilibrium control following spaceflight. Ann N Y Acad Sci 656:747–754. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1992.tb25253.x CrossRefPubMed

Paloski WH, Black FO, Reschke MF, Calkins DS, Shupert C (1993) Vestibular ataxia following shuttle flights: effects of microgravity on otolith-mediated sensorimotor control of posture. Am J Otol 14(1):9–17PubMed

Tomilovskaya ES, Berger M, Gerstenbrand F, Kozlovskaya IB (2013) Effects of long-duration space flights on characteristics of the vertical gaze fixation reaction. J Vestib Res Equilibr Orient 23(1):3–12. doi:10.3233/VES-130470

Title: Cortical reorganization in an astronaut’s brain after long-duration spaceflight
Authors: Athena Demertzi
Angelique Van Ombergen
Elena Tomilovskaya
Ben Jeurissen
Ekaterina Pechenkova
Carol Di Perri
Liudmila Litvinova
Enrico Amico
Alena Rumshiskaya
Ilya Rukavishnikov
Jan Sijbers
Valentin Sinitsyn
Inessa B. Kozlovskaya
Stefan Sunaert
Paul M. Parizel
Paul H. Van de Heyning
Steven Laureys
Floris L. Wuyts
Publication date: 01-06-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Brain Structure and Function / Issue 5/2016
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-015-1054-3

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Cortical reorganization in an astronaut’s brain after long-duration spaceflight

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 5/2016

Homotopic reciprocal functional connectivity between anterior human insulae

Differential maturation of vesicular glutamate and GABA transporter expression in the mouse auditory forebrain during the first weeks of hearing

Effects of acute or chronic environmental enrichment on regional Fos protein expression following sucrose cue-reactivity testing in rats

Impaired and preserved aspects of feedback learning in aMCI: contributions of structural connectivity

Individual variation in the neural processes of motor decisions in the stop signal task: the influence of novelty seeking and harm avoidance personality traits

Longitudinal analysis of the developing rhesus monkey brain using magnetic resonance imaging: birth to adulthood