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

The effect of microgravity-like conditions on high-level cognition: A Review

Mammarella Nicola
2020-01-01

Abstract

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
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
fspas-07-00006.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: PDF editoriale
Dimensione 273.58 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
273.58 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11564/722903
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact