ArticlePloS one2015
Effect of Simulated Microgravity on Human Brain Gray Matter and White Matter--Evidence from MRI.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 58 citations in OpenAlex.
- Exercise effects on bed rest-induced brain changes.PloS one · 2018Trial
- Simulated microgravity affects neuronal synaptic plasticity by regulating microglial pro-inflammatory activation.NPJ microgravity · 2026Article
- Effects of seasonal factors on brain function: Systematic review and future perspectives.iScience · 2025Article
- Spaceflight and Ground-Based Microgravity Simulation Impact on Cognition and Brain Plasticity.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Space Analogs and Behavioral Health Performance Research review and recommendations checklist from ESA Topical Team.NPJ microgravity · 2024Review
- Cognitive performance in ISS astronauts on 6-month low earth orbit missions.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Article
- Spaceflight-Induced Gene Expression Profiles in the Mouse Brain Are Attenuated by Treatment with the Antioxidant BuOE.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Cognition in zero gravity: Effects of non-terrestrial gravity on human behaviour.Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006) · 2023Article
- The Unresolved Methodological Challenge of Detecting Neuroplastic Changes in Astronauts.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Unraveling astrocyte behavior in the space brain: Radiation response of primary astrocytes.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Dynamic Foot Stimulations During Short-Term Hindlimb Unloading Prevent Dysregulation of the Neurotransmission in the Hippocampus of Rats.Cellular and molecular neurobiology · 2021Article
- A review of alterations to the brain during spaceflight and the potential relevance to crew in long-duration space exploration.NPJ microgravity · 2021Review
- Effects of Spaceflight Stressors on Brain Volume, Microstructure, and Intracranial Fluid Distribution.Cerebral cortex communications · 2021Article
- Reduced Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Measured byFrontiers in physiology · 2021Article
- Treatment with Minocycline Suppresses Microglia Activation and Reverses Neural Stem Cells Loss after Simulated Microgravity.BioMed research international · 2020Article
- Simulated weightlessness procedure, head-down bed rest impairs adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rhesus macaque.Molecular brain · 2019Article
- Functional and/or structural brain changes in response to resistance exercises and resistance training lead to cognitive improvements - a systematic review.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2019Article
- Alterations of Functional Brain Connectivity After Long-Duration Spaceflight as Revealed by fMRI.Frontiers in physiology · 2019Article
- Proteomic Analysis of Mouse Brain Subjected to Spaceflight.International journal of molecular sciences · 2018Article
- Generation of Neural Organoids from Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using the Rotary Cell Culture System: Effects of Microgravity on Neural Progenitor Cell Fate.Stem cells and development · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is limited and inconclusive evidence that space environment, especially microgravity condition, may affect microstructure of human brain. This experiment hypothesized that there would be modifications in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the brain due to microgravity.
methodEighteen male volunteers were recruited and fourteen volunteers underwent -6° head-down bed rest (HDBR) for 30 days simulated microgravity. High-resolution brain anatomical imaging data and diffusion tensor imaging images were collected on a 3T MR system before and after HDBR. We applied voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics analysis to investigate the structural changes in GM and WM of brain.
resultsWe observed significant decreases of GM volume in the bilateral frontal lobes, temporal poles, parahippocampal gyrus, insula and right hippocampus, and increases of GM volume in the vermis, bilateral paracentral lobule, right precuneus gyrus, left precentral gyrus and left postcentral gyrus after HDBR. Fractional anisotropy (FA) changes were also observed in multiple WM tracts.
conclusionThese regions showing GM changes are closely associated with the functional domains of performance, locomotion, learning, memory and coordination. Regional WM alterations may be related to brain function decline and adaption. Our findings provide the neuroanatomical evidence of brain dysfunction or plasticity in microgravity condition and a deeper insight into the cerebral mechanisms in microgravity condition.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.