Cognitive functioning in long-duration head-down bed rest.
BACKGROUND
This report is one of a series on the Flight Analog Project, which is designed to lay the groundwork for a standard bed rest protocol. The Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) is a self-administered battery of tests used on the International Space Station for evaluating cognitive functioning. Here, WinSCAT was used to assess cognitive functioning during extended head-down bed rest.


METHODS
There were 13 subjects who participated in 60 or 90 d of head-down bed rest and took WinSCAT during the pre-bed rest phase, the in-bed rest phase, and the post-bed rest (reconditioning) phase of study participation.


RESULTS
After adjusting for individual baseline performance, 12 off-nominal scores were observed out of 351 total observations during bed rest and 7 of 180 during reconditioning. No evidence was found for systematic changes in off-nominal incidence as time in bed rest progressed, or during the reconditioning period.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive functioning does not appear to be adversely affected by long-duration head-down bed rest. Individual differences in underlying cognitive ability and motivation level are likely explanations for the current findings.
Seaton
Kimberly A
KA
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA. kseaton@wylehou.com
Slack
Kelley J
KJ
Sipes
Walter A
WA
Bowie
Kendra E
KE
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D018475:Head-Down Tilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013026:Space Flight; D013997:Time Factors; D014893:Weightlessness / Q000009:adverse effects