Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity

Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity Full article

Journal

Communications biology
ISSN: 2399-3642

Output data

Year: 2023, Number: 6, Article number : 46, Pages count : DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04382-w

Authors

Jillings Steven ¹ , Pechenkova Ekaterina ² , Tomilovskaya Elena ³ , Rukavishnikov Ilya ³ , Jeurissen Ben ^4,5 , Van Ombergen Angelique ^4,6 , Nosikova Inna ³ , Rumshiskaya Alena ⁷ , Litvinova Liudmila ⁷ , Annen Jitka ⁸ , De Laet Chloë ⁴ , Schoenmaekers Catho ⁴ , Sijbers Jan ⁵ , Petrovichev Victor ⁷ , Sunaert Stefan ⁹ , Parizel Paul M ¹⁰ , Sinitsyn Valentin ¹¹ , Eulenburg Peter Zu ¹² , Laureys Steven ^8,13,14 , Demertzi Athena ^15,16 , Wuyts Floris L ⁴

Affiliations

1	Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
2	Laboratory for Cognitive Research, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
3	SSC RF—Institute for Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
4	Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
5	imec-Vision Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
6	Department of Translational Neuroscience-ENT, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
7	Radiology Department, National Medical Research Treatment and Rehabilitation Center of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
8	Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, GIGA Institute, University and University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
9	Department of Imaging & Pathology, Translational MRI, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
10	Department of Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital and University of Western Australia Medical School, Perth, WA, Australia
11	Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
12	Institute for Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
13	Joint International Research Unit on Consciousness, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
14	International Consciousness Science Institute, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
15	Physiology of Cognition, GIGA-CRC In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
16	Department of Psychology, Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

Funding (1)

Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia

63.1

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

Jillings S. , Pechenkova E. , Tomilovskaya E. , Rukavishnikov I. , Jeurissen B. , Van Ombergen A. , Nosikova I. , Rumshiskaya A. , Litvinova L. , Annen J. , De Laet C. , Schoenmaekers C. , Sijbers J. , Petrovichev V. , Sunaert S. , Parizel P.M. , Sinitsyn V. , Eulenburg P.Z. , Laureys S. , Demertzi A. , Wuyts F.L.
Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity
Communications biology. 2023. N6. 46 . DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04382-w WOS Scopus РИНЦ PMID OpenAlex

Submitted:	Mar 17, 2022
Published online:	Jan 13, 2023
Accepted:	Dec 15, 2024

Web of science:	WOS:000922748700012
Scopus:	2-s2.0-85146287663
Elibrary:	60629544
PMID:	36639420
OpenAlex:	W4315881657

DB	Citing
OpenAlex	17
Scopus	8