ArticleCommunications biology2023
Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity.
Article in Communications biology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- The human brain in space: a meta-analysis of neuroimaging evidence.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Effect of spaceflight experience on human brain structure, microstructure, and function: systematic review of neuroimaging studies.Brain imaging and behavior · 2024Pooled it
- Influence of gravity variations on the activity of neuronal spheroids in an acoustic trap.NPJ microgravity · 2026Article
- Space Oddity: microgravity as a neurocognitive catalyst for transformative consciousness experiences.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Neural changes in microgravity: Investigating the effects of aerospace environments.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2025Review
- Sensory network segregation as a predictor of post spaceflight balance impairments and sensory re-weighting.NPJ microgravity · 2025Article
- Neural correlates of vestibular adaptation in cosmonauts after long duration spaceflight.NPJ microgravity · 2025Article
- [Potential biological mechanisms underlying spaceflight-induced depression symptoms in astronauts].Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2025Review
- Transient gray matter decline during antarctic isolation: Roles of sleep, exercise, and cognition.NPJ microgravity · 2025Article
- Changes of EEG beta band power and functional connectivity during spaceflight: a retrospective study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- The microgravity environment affects sensorimotor adaptation and its neural correlates.Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) · 2025Article
- Neuroadaptive changes in brain structural-functional coupling among pilots.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2025Article
- Physical exercise restores adult neurogenesis deficits induced by simulated microgravity.NPJ microgravity · 2024Article
- Influence of microgravity on spontaneous calcium activity of primary hippocampal neurons grown in microfluidic chips.NPJ microgravity · 2024Article
- Cognitive performance in ISS astronauts on 6-month low earth orbit missions.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Article
- Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Is Associated with Motor, Cognitive, and Emotional Dysfunction in Multiple System Atrophy.Journal of Parkinson's disease · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
21 authors at 10 institutions in 6 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The prospect of continued manned space missions warrants an in-depth understanding of how prolonged microgravity affects the human brain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can pinpoint changes reflecting adaptive neuroplasticity across time. We acquired resting-state fMRI data of cosmonauts before, shortly after, and eight months after spaceflight as a follow-up to assess global connectivity changes over time. Our results show persisting connectivity decreases in posterior cingulate cortex and thalamus and persisting increases in the right angular gyrus. Connectivity in the bilateral insular cortex decreased after spaceflight, which reversed at follow-up. No significant connectivity changes across eight months were found in a matched control group. Overall, we show that altered gravitational environments influence functional connectivity longitudinally in multimodal brain hubs, reflecting adaptations to unfamiliar and conflicting sensory input in microgravity. These results provide insights into brain functional modifications occurring during spaceflight, and their further development when back on Earth.
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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.