Noninvasive Brain Stimulation & Space Exploration: Opportunities and Challenges. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Romanella, S.M.; Sprugnoli, G.; Ruffini, G.; Seyedmadani, K.; Rossi, S.; Santarnecchi, E.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 119(2020)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 319
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: AAT Arm ability training -- AD Alzheimer's disease -- APP Amyloid precursor protein -- AS Anterior salience network -- BDNF Brain-derived neurotrophic factor -- CNS Central nervous system -- CR Cosmic Radiation -- CSF Cerebrospinal fluid -- DLPFC Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex -- DMN Default mode network -- ECLSS Environmental Control and Life Support System -- EEG Electroencephalography -- EIT Electrical impedance tomography -- EMI Electromagnetic noise generated -- ERD Event-related desynchronization -- ERPs Event-Related Potential -- ES Erector spinae -- EVA Extravehicular activity -- FC Functional connectivity -- FDA Food and Drug Administration -- fEPSP Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials -- fMRI Functional magnetic resonance imaging -- FUS Focused ultrasound stimulation -- GCR Galactic Cosmic Radiation -- HDBR head-down bed rest -- HRP Human Research Program -- ICE Isolated, Confined, and Extreme -- ICF Intra-cortical facilitation -- IFCN International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology -- ISI inter-stimulus interval -- ISS International Space Station -- LEO Low Earth orbit -- LORETA Low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography -- LTP Long-term potentiation -- LTD Long-term depression -- M1 Motor cortex -- MCC Mission Control Center -- MDD Major Depressive Disorder -- MEPs Motor evoked potentials -- MRI Magnetic resonance imaging -- NBS Navigated brain stimulation -- NiBS Noninvasive brain stimulation -- NMDA N-methyl-D-aspartate -- otDCS Oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation -- PBM Photobiomodulation -- PET Positron emission tomography -- PPC Posterior parietal cortex -- ppTMS paired-pulse TMS -- RMT Resting motor threshold -- rTMS Repetitive TMS -- SANS Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome -- SM Sensorimotor network -- SMA Supplementary motor area -- SMS Space Motion Sickness -- spTMS Single-pulse TMS -- SSRMS Space Station Remote Manipulator System -- SWA Slow-wave activity -- SWS Slow-wave sleep -- tACS Transcranial alternating current stimulation -- TBS Theta-burst stimulation -- tDCS Transcranial direct current stimulation -- tES Transcranial electrical stimulation -- TMS Transcranial magnetic stimulation -- tRNS Transcranial random noise stimulation -- VAN Ventral attention network -- VAT Visuomotor adaptation task -- VIIP Vision Impairment and Intracranial Pressure -- WM Working memory; Brain stimulation -- spaceflight -- cosmic radiations -- TMS -- tDCS -- EEG; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.09.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Astronauts undergo spaceflight associated brain modifications, psychological stress, and changes in cognitive performance. Noninvasive brain stimulation has been used as a portable, safe countermeasure to a variety of stressors. Ad-hoc protocols could enhance in-flight performance, boost executive functions, sleep efficiency and mood. Plasticity-based protocols could accelerate pre-flight Earth-based training and capture post-flight changes. Abstract: As NASA prepares for longer space missions aiming for the Moon and Mars, astronauts' health and performance are becoming a central concern due to the threats associated with galactic cosmic radiation, unnatural gravity fields, and life in extreme environments. In space, the human brain undergoes functional and structural changes related to fluid shift and changes in intracranial pressure. Behavioral abnormalities, such as cognitive deficits, sleep disruption, and visuomotor difficulties, as well as psychological effects, are also an issue. We discuss opportunities and challenges of noninvasive brain stimulation (NiBS) methods — including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) — to support space exploration in several ways. NiBS includes safe and portable techniques already applied in a wide range of cognitive and motor domains, as well as therapeutically. NiBS could be used to enhance in-flight performance, supporting astronauts during pre-flight Earth-based training, as well as to identify biomarkers of post-flight brain changes for optimization of rehabilitation/compensatory strategies. We review these NiBS techniques and their effects on brain physiology, psychology, and cognition.