Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Changes of Eeg Beta Band Power and Functional Connectivity During Spaceflight: A Retrospective Study
Publication Date
4-18-2025
Journal
Scientific Reports
Abstract
Spaceflight exposes astronauts to unique conditions like microgravity, which may affect brain function, though it remains underexplored compared to other physiological systems. Astronauts often report temporary neurological symptoms, such as disorientation, visual disturbances, and motor issues, potentially linked to structural and electrophysiological brain changes. To investigate this, electroencephalography (EEG) is a reliable tool to study brain activity in space, measuring oscillatory activity and functional connectivity (FC). This study analyzed EEG data from five male astronauts during three stages: pre-flight, during low Earth orbit (LEO), and post-flight in a 2-min task-free eyes-closed (EC) condition followed by another 2-min of eyes-open (EO) condition. The focus was on beta band (12-30 Hz) activity, which is associated with motor control and proprioception. Results showed increased beta power during spaceflight when compared to pre-flight (EC: p < 0.01) and post-flight (EC: p < 0.01; EO: p < 0.05) conditions. FC strength also increased during spaceflight when compared to pre-flight (EO: p < 0.05) and post-flight (EC: p < 0.01; EO: p < 0.01) conditions. These differences were found primarily in the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and frontotemporal regions, suggesting the brain's adaptation to altered vestibular and proprioceptive inputs during microgravity. As these results reflect astronaut's movement adaptation to microgravity, this study highlights the importance of understanding central nervous system (CNS) changes during spaceflights to ensure optimal performance and protect astronaut's health during long-duration missions.
Keywords
Humans, Space Flight, Male, Electroencephalography, Adult, Weightlessness, Astronauts, Brain, Retrospective Studies, Beta Rhythm, Middle Aged, EEG, Spaceflight, Brain, Beta activity, Neuroscience, Neurology, Medical research
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-96897-5
PMID
40251277
PMCID
PMC12008298
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
4-18-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes