Signs of 'Significant' Brain Rewiring Have Been Found in Space Travelers

There is still a lot to learn about the effects of space travel on the body and brain.

Significant microstructural changes were found in the white matter of the brains of 12 cosmonauts.

The data was obtained through a series of scans taken just before and after participants spent time in space. There was a reversal of some changes, but some of them were still visible seven months later.

The team found changes in neural tracts related to sensory and motor functions, which they theorize could have something to do with the cosmonauts adapting to life in microgravity.

Considering the different physics and kinesthetics applying to the extreme environment of space and the hypothesis that these have significant effects on the brain's representation and control of the body, these tracts are suspected to reflect this.

This is the first time fiber tractography has been used in relation to the effects of spaceflight. A 3D picture of neuron tracts is revealed by the technique.

While changes in the brains of space travelers have been observed before, by using fiber tractography this study was able to take a better look at the actual connections between neurons and how they shifted.

Initially, the researchers thought that they had seen changes in the central highway connecting the two hemispheres of the brain, but on closer analysis they were seeing an expansion of the brain's ventricles.

The structural changes we initially found in the corpus callosum are caused by the dilation of the ventricles.

When it was thought that there were structural changes in the brain, we only observed shape changes. The findings are put in a different perspective.

Changes in the wiring of the brain allow us to learn new skills and make new memories. It is not clear what the implications of this space-related rewiring might be.

Our bodies try to adapt to the harsh environment of space. There are signs of an increased risk of disease and ways the brain could get damaged. Spending time in space affects men and women differently.

It is early days for the study of this particular brain adaptation using this particular scanning technique, but the more we know about human bodies and zero gravity, the better we will be for journeying to other worlds.

The findings give us more pieces of the puzzle. The results contribute to our understanding of what is going on in the brains of space travelers.

It is crucial to maintain this line of research, looking for brain changes from different perspectives and using different techniques.

The research has been published.