宇宙航空環境医学 Vol. 60, No. 1, 4, 2023

海外招待講演 1

Protecting the Brain and Operational Performance during Spaceflights Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Ajitkumar P. Mulavara

NASA Johnson Space Center : Combined Behavioral Stressors Project Scientist, KBR

During space flight missions, astronauts are exposed to numerousc hallenges, including altered gravity, space radiation, altered day-night cycles and isolation and confinement. Growing evidence suggests that during future exploration missions these space flight stressors may lead to changes to the cognitive, behavioral, and sensorimotor domains of the brain that impact performance.　It is also possible that spaceflight stressors could interact synergistically and increase the overall risk to the health and performance of the astronaut.　The Combined Behavioral Stressors（CBS）project is focused on characterizing effects of such combined hazards that may collectively affect the astronauts’ central nervous system（CNS）and subsequently, their cognition, behavior, performance, and potentially long-term well-being. Data will be presented showing space flight-induced changes to the structure and function of the brain, and to operational performance.　This interdisciplinary research on the ‘brain in space’ can help elucidate the potential interactions of spaceflight hazards and how they may impact operational performance during and after spaceflight.