Space Travel Alters Astronauts' Brain Structure: Study Reveals Shifts and Recovery
Science
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CNBC TV18•16-01-2026, 09:27
Space Travel Alters Astronauts' Brain Structure: Study Reveals Shifts and Recovery
- •A new study published in PNAS reveals that space travel causes astronauts' brains to shift upward and backward within the skull.
- •These changes are most pronounced in sensory and motor regions, affecting balance, disorientation, and motion sickness.
- •Researchers used MRI data from 26 astronauts and 24 bed rest subjects to quantify brain position changes.
- •Most spaceflight-related brain alterations tend to revert to pre-flight states within six months of returning to Earth, especially in the vertical plane.
- •The duration of space exposure is a key factor, with longer missions leading to more significant and persistent changes, highlighting the need for further research for astronaut safety.
Why It Matters: Spaceflight causes temporary brain shifts, primarily in sensory areas, with recovery largely occurring post-return.
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