Astronauts found that they were able to process some tasks more slowly in space, but they showed no signs of permanent cognitive decline.

Staying in space puts extreme pressure on the human body. Astronauts’ bodies and brains are affected by radiation, changes in gravity, harsh working conditions, and sleep deprivation, all of which can impair cognitive function. At the same time, you have to perform complex tasks, and small mistakes can have catastrophic consequences.

However, little is known about whether astronauts’ cognitive abilities change while in space. Now, US researchers have worked with 25 astronauts who spent an average of six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to examine changes in a wide range of cognitive performance areas. This dataset constitutes the largest sample of cognitive performance data from professional astronauts ever published.

Dr. Sheena Dev, a researcher at NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Institute and lead author of the Frontiers in Physiology study, said, “We showed that there was no evidence of deterioration in degenerative function.” .

“Living and working in space was not associated with widespread cognitive impairment that would suggest significant brain damage.”

It’s slower, but not as accurate

The astronauts underwent a series of tests developed to assess various cognitive domains using 10 subtests. For each of these tests, the researchers measured speed and accuracy at five points in time: pre-mission, early in flight, late in flight, and 10 and 30 days after landing.

They found that while their responses to tasks assessing processing speed, working memory, and attention were slower than on Earth, they were no less accurate. However, these changes are not as long-lasting.

“For example, performance declines related to attention were only observed during the early stages of the mission, whereas performance declines related to processing speed did not return to baseline levels until the end of the mission and the crew returned to Earth. I did,” Dev pointed out.

Overall, the astronauts’ cognitive performance remained stable, and the researchers found no evidence to suggest damage to the central nervous system during the six-month space mission.

Data for future space missions

The results showed that some cognitive areas were more affected than others.

“Across the globe, processing speed, working memory, and attention are cognitive domains that can show temporary changes when individuals are under stress. Other domains, such as memory, For example, if you happen to be under stress, have a really busy day, but didn’t get much sleep the night before, find it difficult to pay attention, or need more time to complete tasks. “You may feel that way,” the developer explained.

Astronauts are also exposed to these stressors, but additional space-specific stressors also take their toll. “We found that the areas where astronauts are most vulnerable while on the ISS are the same areas that are susceptible to stressors on Earth,” Dev said.

The researchers said the study helps understand what changes to cognitive performance can be expected when humans go to extreme environments. However, the researchers cautioned that the study does not show why such changes occurred. Nor was it scheduled to assess whether astronauts’ operational capabilities were affected.

“Even in areas where decline was observed, astronauts may still have been able to compensate and perform their missions effectively,” Dev said.

As astronauts begin their journeys into deeper space, such as the Moon or Mars, this data from low-Earth orbit will help them more quickly detect cognitive changes brought about by increased radiation exposure or longer communication delays. The researchers say it can also provide a useful comparison. concluded.