Study Reveals: Space Travels Can Make People Little Dumb
The research team, led by Dr. Sheena Dev at NASA's Johnson Space Center, studied 25 astronauts who spent an average of 6 months on the ISS.
Space Travels Can Makes People Little Dumb
According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Physiology, astronauts endure a temporary slowing of cognitive performance when in space.
Led by Dr. Sheena Dev from NASA's Johnson Space Center, the study examined 25 astronauts who spent an average of six months aboard the International Space Station.
The findings indicated that, although the astronauts did not suffer from significant cognitive deficits or neurodegenerative changes, certain cognitive functions—such as processing speed, working memory, and attention—did slow down during their time in orbit.
"Even on Earth, processing speed, working memory, and attention are cognitive domains that can show temporary changes when an individual is under stress," Dr. Sheena Dev explained. "We found that the most vulnerable domains while astronauts are aboard the ISS are the same as those that are more susceptible to stressors on Earth," she added. The study noted that these cognitive changes did not persist after the astronauts returned to Earth, although processing speed took longer to return to normal.
