Optimizing transcranial magnetic stimulation for spaceflight applications.

As space agencies aim to reach and build installations on Mars, the crews will face longer exposure to extreme environments that may compromise their health and performance. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a painless non-invasive brain stimulation technique that could support space exploration in multiple ways. However, changes in brain morphology previously observed after long-term space missions may impact the efficacy of this intervention. We investigated how to optimize TMS for spaceflight-associated brain changes. Magnetic resonance imaging T1-weighted scans were collected from 15 Roscosmos cosmonauts and 14 non-flyer participants before, after 6 months on the International Space Station, and at a 7-month follow-up. Using biophysical modeling, we show that TMS generates different modeled responses in specific brain regions after spaceflight in cosmonauts compared to the control group. Differences are related to spaceflight-induced structural brain changes, such as those impacting cerebrospinal fluid volume and distribution. We suggest solutions to individualize TMS to enhance its efficacy and precision for potential applications in long-duration space missions.

[Effects of mechanical stimulation of the soles' support zones on H-reflex characteristics under support unloading condition].

The aim of the work was to study the effects of mechanical stimulation of the soles' support zones on state of m. soleus motoneurone pool in man under 7-days support unloading conditions, which was provided by "Dry Immersion" model. Before, during and after immersion exposure the excitability of m. soleus motoneurone pool was estimated by H-reflex amplitude normalized by the maximal amplitude of M-wave. The data registered in two groups of volunteers: "control" in which only immersion exposure was used and "experimental" in which stimulation of support zones of sole was carried out during Dry Immersion were compared. During immersion relative amplitude of H-reflex increased in the control group. These alterations were not revealed in the experimental group with daily application of the support stimulation in natural locomotion regimens during immersion.

[Effect of support deprivation on the sequence of motor units recruiting].

Motor units (MUs) activity in the knee extensors were tested by sustention of a small isometric effort in the conditions of foot support deprivation by dry immersion with simultaneous mechanic stimulation of the foot support zones. Analysis of MUs inter-pulse intervals (IPI) histograms in the heads of two leg extensors (m. soleus and m. gastrocnemius lat.) demonstrated that the MUs recruiting order is much dependent on the support input activity. In immersion, rearrangement of the sequence of MUs recruiting during the isometric effort sustention test pointed to a lower involvement of small tonic MUs; large MUs with IPIs as long as 260 ms and high variability took the place of small tonic MUs with relatively short IPIs (100 ms) and weak variability. Daily support stimulation in the timeframe of immersion was favorable to maintaining the normal pattern of MUs recruitment.

Effects of long-duration space flights on characteristics of the vertical gaze fixation reaction.

The aim of the study was to examine effects of long-duration exposure to weightlessness on characteristics of the vertical gaze fixation reaction (GFR). The subjects were to perform the target acquisition task on visual stimuli that appeared at a distance of 16 deg. up- and down from the primary position in a random order. Experiments were performed before launch, during flight and after landing. Before flight time of gaze fixation reaction did not exceed 650 ms. During space flight (SF) it extended up to 900-1000 ms and more. The velocities of head movement in space decreased, but the velocities of eye counterrotation decreased to a lesser degree. This difference resulted in sharp increase of vertical vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) gain (up to 4.3 values in one of the cosmonauts) during the 1st month of flight; further it decreased reaching the values of 0.5-0.7 on the 5th month of SF. After landing vertical VOR gain increased greatly again. These results in the vertical axis are in agreement with the data of Kozlovskaya et al., which showed in experiments with monkeys that horizontal VOR gain increased together with redundant inadequate responses of vestibular nucleus on vestibular stimulation and that in the course of adaptation to these conditions central nervous system inhibited vestibular input from the motor control system.

Alterations of characteristics of horizontal gaze fixation reaction in long-term space flights.

The study was performed to explore effects of long-duration SF on the characteristics of horizontal gaze fixation reaction (hGFR). Changes in GFR observed in long-duration space flight (SF) point out to serious disturbances of the VOR system due to, apparently, altered vestibular activity. Two strategies of reaction adaptation to the microgravity conditions were discovered in cosmonauts of civic occupations and pilots.

Event-related EEG changes preceding saccadic eye movements before and after dry immersion.

Objectives of this work were to quantify antisaccade characteristics, presaccadic slow negative EEG-potentials, and event-related EEG frequency band power (theta, alpha1, alpha2, beta1, beta2 and beta3) changes (ERD) in healthy volunteers before and after 6-day simulated weightlessness (dry immersion).