Neuro-Cognitive Performance Is Enhanced During Short Periods Of Microgravity

Impact of spaceflight stressors on behavior and cognition: A molecular, neurochemical, and neurobiological perspective

“…The gravitational frame of reference seems to facilitate the mapping of body-part representation onto spatial coordinate positions, which can be altered in a microgravity environment (Grabherr and Mast, 2010), as are illusory body movements (Roll et al, 1993) and accuracy in pointing (Watt, 1997). Similarly, manual tracking errors are higher following extended exposure to a microgravity environment, possibly because complex motor programming resources are altered during sensorimotor adaptation to the space environment (Bock et al, 2010;Eddy et al, 1998;Fowler et al, 2000;Heuer et al, 2003;Manzey, 2000;Manzey et al, 1993;Semjen et al, 1998;Wollseiffen et al, 2016). These microgravity-based issues are important because changes in depth perception could result in spatial disorientation episodes, errors in object (e.g., approaching vehicle) distance perception, and difficulties in navigating within or outside a given spacecraft.…”

Selective facilitation of egocentric mental transformations under short-term microgravity

“…Results of this study, however, were obscured by large individual differences within the cohort as well as significant learning effects throughout the experiment. Although we did observe learning in our task (Figure 3), we controlled for this effect in two ways: (1) inflight 1g and 0g data were collected in a single experimental session and over rapidly alternating periods, thus minimizing the extent of learning [33] , and (2) postflight data collected on the ground were compared to inflight 1g data to ensure that performance was similar during and after the flight. Regardless, even if learning had occurred during the flight, this could not explain the facilitation observed in 0g, since the collection of inflight 0g data always alternated with inflight 1g data collection.…”

“…In fact, it was previously suggested that facilitation or impairment in cognitive performance during weightlessness phases of parabolic flights compared to ground observations may be attributable to increased stress rather than weightlessness itself [13] . In that regard, [33] argued that in-flight stress effects could be controlled for by performing measurements on repetitive and consecutive periods of normal gravity and microgravity. Yet another explanation for the contradicting findings relates to differences in strategy that subjects may have used to solve the tasks.…”

Selective facilitation of egocentric mental transformations under short-term microgravity

“…In fact, it was previously suggested that facilitation or impairment in cognitive performance during weightlessness phases of parabolic flights compared to ground observations may be attributable to increased stress rather than weightlessness itself [13] . In that regard, [33] argued that in-flight stress effects could be controlled for by performing measurements on repetitive and consecutive periods of normal gravity and microgravity.…”