Dear Vigneswaran Veeramuthu,

Indeed this is a very hot topic since the expansion of the "brain research area" in the recent years. Within my PhD thesis I wanted to answer the question whether bed rest is a good model to simulate microgravity condition on Earth. The research body was focusing mainly on other fields besides CNS, such as muscle and bone physiology, however in the recently published review, we discussed brain changes from the electrocortical activity point of view (from the literature that we could find - space and parabolic flights & bed rest). Indeed, studies with MRI and fMRI after the space flight missions will reveal structural and behavioural changes that occur within the brain after x days of microgravity environment. We recently found out that EEG/ERP method is very sensitive to small changes that occur during short-term bed rest, and are even more pronounced in older adults. I would be interested if there is any further research on this area.

Do you know when the first mission with fMRI will be held? Are you involved in this research as well?

Dear Uros Marusic,

The first mission with the fMRI studies would have already started as study duration/ expedition involved is as follows: Duration : September 2014- ongoing / Expedition: 41-46. I am not involved in this study with NASA, neither am I involved in any other studies undertaken by the said body (although it would be great to collaborate with NASA/researchers involved). I posted this question so that we can start a discourse here and possibly lead to future collaboration with people within the field.

I believe any studies on the effects of microgravity environment on human physiology/neurophysiology are essential in the effort to advance safe human space exploration. It is indeed intriguing that you are exploring electrocortical activities. It would definitely make significant sense and also very much a doable protocol of which is being/ has been carried out by the ESA.

The details of NASA's study protocol can be found here http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2377/13/205

With regards to structural imaging in this study, I believe the investigators have chosen the appropriate imaging modalities to answer their research questions (relationship between specific structures and specific neurocognitive process/ performance). There are however better choices, in my humble opinion (like instead of DTI, they could have chosen DSI/ DKI protocols). The details on the specific WM structures being investigated is lacking except for a mention of corticospinal tract. There are few other fibers/ WM pathways that they could (or are probably looking at) include. This includes the medial lemniscus, spinothalamic tract, tectospinal tract, superior longitudinal fasiculus, and superior occipitofrontal fasiculus which have been implicated to influence the specific neurocognitive performance as of the ones being studied by the researchers at NASA.

I am looking forward to the findings of the study as the study protocol involves three different subject groups i.e the astronauts, bed-rest subjects and ground-based control subject. The longitudinal data from this study would indeed help to develop a better model elucidating the complex alteration of cognition in space. Integrating imaging studies with other modalities like EEG/ERP would be the next step forward, I believe.

Are you working with any of the space agencies in the pursuit of doing your studies?

Hi Vigneswaran,

I think there are likely to be very significant impacts on neural activity with prolonged space flight. Why? Because our visual system won't be activated properly. The dorsal stream will be affected and this could lead to neural redundancy, chemical imbalances in the brain and behavioral changes! The dorsal stream processes 'where' and provides vital orientation awareness and if my work on Vision-Space (a new form of illusionary space) is correct then on an perceptual/experiential level we generate a true field structure in peripheral vision. It’s this field structure that provides 'proximity cues'. 90% of phenomenal field is not a pointlessly degraded form of central vision. It’s a highly specialised data formation. I don't think this will be generated in space! (at least outside the capsule/space craft). Astronauts will compensate by developing sharper central vision but loose a vital component of experiential reality; how we see ourselves in relation to the world. Over time they could suffer ASD related conditions and start to behave accordingly. Obviously I think this is going to be a significant problem that needs investigation!

The issue is that our visual system evolved in very specific circumstances down here in earth. From the study of the phenomenon of vision its apparent that we are able to generate an ‘implicit’ form of spatial awareness into which is set our ‘explicit’ contemplation of form (objects etc). Currently we have only really got to grips with the later presenting in central vision – the ‘what’ pathway (ventral stream). The ‘implicit’ form of spatial awareness presents as a field structure set out in x,y&z dimensions (even on a monocular basis). It would appear that this data-formation is unfolded from noise involving an entirely different computational process. Within this ‘noise’ lies a spatial impression from the environment and it’s this component that will be missing in space. There may be noise in the signal but it won’t contain anything to ‘process’.

I attach a list of Vision-Space presentations.

We have developed a post-production tool that can take in optically derived visual media (pictures) and convert this to Vision-Space media (images) so we can generate Vision-Space moving images. We think that Vision-Space models visual awareness. Vision-Space media is inherently 3D but not on the 1,2,3D curve. You don't need specialist glasses to see the additional spatial saliency. Why? Because there aren't any pictures in the visual system to fuse so there is no binocular fusion going on.

We (PAC www.pacentre.org & CU Cardiff Uni Computer Science) are in the process of applying for funding to get Vision-Space to real-time speeds for use in a simulator. It’s at this stage that formal evaluation processes can begin. Hope this is of interest.

There are publications on my page. Having the Courage of Your Perceptions has some thoughts on space flight in its appendix.

Thanks John Jupe for your insights. Will go through some of your videos.