Brain fog in space: Can astronauts forget how to walk?

Brain fog in space: Can astronauts forget how to walk?

Space Jitters: Why Astronauts Can Feel Wobbly When They Get Back!

Imagine learning to ride a bike, then spending months swimming underwater, and then trying to ride that bike again. You might feel a bit wobbly, right? Astronauts experience something similar, but with their whole body! After floating in space for a long time, their brains get used to a world without gravity. This can lead to something like "brain fog" and make it tricky for them to walk properly when they first return to Earth.

Body's GPS Reset: How Space Changes Balance

Our brain constantly uses information from our eyes, inner ears (which help with balance), and muscles to figure out where our body is in space and how to move. This is like our body's own GPS system. In space, this GPS gets completely reset. Our inner ears, which usually feel gravity's pull, don't get the same signals. Our muscles don't have to work against gravity. Our eyes see things floating in all directions. The brain has to adapt to this new "floating" way of moving.

Learning to Walk (Again!): Brain's New Tricks

When astronauts come back to Earth, gravity immediately kicks in. Suddenly, their bodies need to push down, their inner ears feel the pull, and their muscles have to work hard to keep them upright. Their brain, which got so good at moving in microgravity, now has to quickly learn how to walk, balance, and coordinate movements all over again. This process is called "sensorimotor adaptation" – basically, their senses and movements have to adapt back to Earth's rules. This can make them feel dizzy, wobbly, and unsure of their footing, almost as if they've forgotten how to walk normally. It's a temporary "brain fog" as their nervous system tries to catch up!

Retraining the Brain: Getting Back to Earth-Life

To help astronauts quickly get over this wobbly feeling, they start special balance and coordination exercises even before landing. Once on Earth, they continue intense physical rehabilitation. This helps their brain re-learn how to use gravity to their advantage for balance and movement. It's an incredible example of "neural plasticity," which means our brain can change and adapt to new situations, even after being in a completely different environment like space!

Key References:

• Bloomberg, J. J., & Mulavara, A. P. (2003). Spaceflight and its effects on the central nervous system. Current Opinion in Neurology, 16(3), 369-373. (Discusses sensorimotor adaptation and balance).

• Karmali, F., & M. S. (2018). Sensory and Motor Adaptation to Microgravity. In Human Physiology in Space (pp. 165-188). Springer, New York, NY. (Provides a detailed overview of sensorimotor changes).

• Reschke, M. F., & Wood, S. J. (2018). Sensorimotor Adaptation to Spaceflight. In Human Research Program Human Health and Performance Risks of Space Exploration Missions: Evidence Book (NASA SP-2018-7711). (NASA's comprehensive evidence book often covers this topic in detail).

• NASA Human Research Program: Offers insights into neurological and balance challenges for astronauts.