Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04382-w
• Publication Date: 2023-01-13T17:05:15Z
• Authors: Steven Jillings; Ekaterina Pechenkova; Elena Tomilovskaya; Ilya Rukavishnikov; Ben Jeurissen; Angelique Van Omb...; Inna Nosikova; Alena Rumshiskaya; Liudmila Litvinova; Jitka Annen; Chloë De Laet; Catho Schoenmaekers; Jan Sijbers; Victor Petrovichev; Stefan Sunaert; Paul M. Parizel; Valentin Sinitsyn; Peter zu Eulenburg; Steven Laureys; Athena Demertzi; Floris L. Wuyts
• Keywords: QH301-705.5; Weightlessness; Brain; Gyrus Cinguli; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Article; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Parietal Lobe; Humans; Human medicine; Biology (General); Biology; Engineering sciences. Technology

The prospect of continued manned space missions warrants an in-depth understanding how prolonged microgravity affects the human brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can pinpoint changes reflecting adaptive neuroplasticity across time. We acquired resting-state fMRI data cosmonauts before, shortly after, and eight months after spaceflight as a follow-up to assess global connectivity over Our results show persisting decreases in posterior cingulate cortex thalamus increases right angular gyrus. Connectivity bilateral insular decreased spaceflight, which reversed at follow-up. No significant were found matched control group. Overall, we that altered gravitational environments influence functional longitudinally multimodal brain hubs, adaptations unfamiliar conflicting sensory input microgravity. These provide insights into modifications occurring during their further development when back on Earth.