The Effect of Microgravity-Like Conditions on High-Level Cognition: A Review

• Main Author: Nicola Mammarella
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-02-01
• Series: Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
• Subjects: microgravity; cognition; higher cognitive functions; working memory; Head Down Bed Rest (HDBR)
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fspas.2020.00006/full

With an increasing interest in space traveling, the potential risks and benefits of microgravity on mental functioning is becoming a central research issue. Here we briefly reviewed a series of behavioral studies in order to identify what is known and not known about the effects of microgravity on higher cognitive functions. We first used a general approach to describe the interaction between microgravity and higher cognition. Subsequently, we analytically described a series of studies that focused on single high-level cognitive processes (e.g., mental imagery, working memory, etc.). Altogether, these findings point to a complex pattern of data mainly explained by the variety of methodological aspects (e.g., duration of microgravity-like conditions, low number of studies). Even so, the importance of higher-level cognitive functions for space performance remains fundamental and deserves further attention. These data are ultimately interesting in light of the potential long-term effects that microgravity may play on return to Earth.