title: The effect of spaceflight and microgravity on the human brain.
abstract: Microgravity, confinement, isolation, and immobilization are just some of the features astronauts have to cope with during space missions. Consequently, long-duration space travel can have detrimental effects on human physiology. Although research has focused on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system in particular, the exact impact of spaceflight on the human central nervous system remains to be determined. Previous studies have reported psychological problems, cephalic fluid shifts, neurovestibular problems, and cognitive alterations, but there is paucity in the knowledge of the underlying neural substrates. Previous space analogue studies and preliminary spaceflight studies have shown an involvement of the cerebellum, cortical sensorimotor, and somatosensory areas and the vestibular pathways. Extending this knowledge is crucial, especially in view of long-duration interplanetary missions (e.g., Mars missions) and space tourism. In addition, the acquired insight could be relevant for vestibular patients, patients with neurodegenerative disorders, as well as the elderly population, coping with multisensory deficit syndromes, immobilization, and inactivity.
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Angelique
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3977-4279
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Ombergen
authors.affiliation: Coma Science Group, GIGA-Research & Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.|Brain and Spine Institute-Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Hôpital-Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demertzi
authors.affiliation: SSC RF-Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomilovskaya
authors.affiliation: Imec/Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeurissen
authors.affiliation: Imec/Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sijbers
authors.affiliation: SSC RF-Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Inessa B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Kozlovskaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Van de Heyning
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging & Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunaert
authors.affiliation: Coma Science Group, GIGA-Research & Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laureys
authors.affiliation: Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. floris.wuyts@uantwerpen.be.|Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. floris.wuyts@uantwerpen.be.|Antwerp University Research Centre for Equilibrium and Aerospace (AUREA), Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium. floris.wuyts@uantwerpen.be.
authors.forename: Floris L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Wuyts
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness
keywords: Bed rest; Brain; Central nervous system; Dry immersion; EEG; Human spaceflight; MRI; Microgravity; Neuroplasticity; Parabolic flight