Effect of Simulated Space Conditions on functional Connectivity

TL;DR

This study investigates how simulated space conditions affect brain functional connectivity using EEG and fNIRS during motor imagery tasks in virtual reality, revealing stronger EEG coherence than fNIRS across different gravity simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining EEG, fNIRS, and virtual reality to assess brain connectivity under simulated space environments.

Findings

EEG coherence was higher than fNIRS coherence across conditions.

Functional connectivity was consistent regardless of simulated gravity conditions.

Further intra-regional brain connectivity analysis is needed.

Abstract

Long duration spaceflight missions can affect the cognitive and behavioral activities of astronauts due to changes in gravity. The microgravity significantly impacts the central nervous system physiology which causes the degradation in the performance and lead to potential risk in the space exploration. The aim of this study was to evaluate functional connectivity at simulated space conditions using an unloading harness system to mimic the body-weight distribution related to Earth, Mars, and International Space Station. A unity model with six directional arrows to imagine six different motor imagery tasks associated with arms and legs were designed for the Oculus Rift S virtual reality headset for testing. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals were recorded from 10 participants in the distributed weight conditions related to Earth, Mars, and International Space station using the g.Nautilus fNIRS system at sampling rate of 500 Hz. The magnitude squared coherence were estimated from left vs right hemisphere of the brain that represents functional connectivity. The EEG coherence was the higher which shows the strong functional connectivity and fNIRS coherence was lower shows weak functional connectivity between left vs right hemisphere of the brain, during all the tasks and trials irrespective of the simulated space conditions. Further analysis of functional connectivity needed between the intra-regions of the brain.