There’s good news for astronauts working on the International Space Station (ISS).
Although astronauts’ bodies and brains are exposed to radiation, altered gravity, challenging working conditions and sleep deprivation on space missions, a study of 25 astronauts found no evidence that these conditions harm their thinking skills in the long term.
“Living and working in space was not associated with widespread cognitive impairment that would indicate brain damage,” said study author Sheena Dev, a researcher at NASA’s Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory.
Astronauts must perform complex tasks during space missions, and even small mistakes can have serious consequences, she said.
The astronauts who participated in the study had worked on the International Space Station for six months.
