TY - JOUR
T1 - Neurocognitive performance is enhanced during short periods of microgravity—Part 2
AU - Wollseiffen, Petra
AU - Klein, Timo
AU - Vogt, Tobias
AU - Abeln, Vera
AU - Strüder, Heiko K.
AU - Stuckenschneider, Tim
AU - Sanders, Marit
AU - Claassen, Jurgen A.H.R.
AU - Askew, Christopher D.
AU - Carnahan, Heather
AU - Schneider, Stefan
PY - 2019/8/1
Y1 - 2019/8/1
N2 - Previous studies showed a decrease in reaction time during the weightlessness phase of a parabolic flight. This effect was found to be stronger with increasing task complexity and was independent of previous experience of weightlessness as well as anti-nausea medication. Analysis of event related potentials showed a decreased amplitude of the N100-P200 complex in weightlessness but was not able to distinguish a possible effect of task complexity. The present study aimed to extend this previous work, by comparing behavioral (reaction time)and neurological (event related potentials analysis)performance to a simple (oddball)and a complex (mental arithmetic + oddball)task during weightlessness. 28 participants participated in two experiments. 11 participants performed a simple oddball experiment in the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. 17 participants were presented a complex arithmetic task in combination with an oddball task during the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. Reaction time as well as event related potentials (ERP)were assessed. Results revealed a reduced reaction time (p <.05)for the complex task during 0G. No gravity effects on reaction time were found for the simple task. In both experiments a reduction of typical ERP amplitudes was noticeable in weightlessness. It is assumed that the weightlessness induced fluid shift to the brain is positively affecting neuro-behavioral performance.
AB - Previous studies showed a decrease in reaction time during the weightlessness phase of a parabolic flight. This effect was found to be stronger with increasing task complexity and was independent of previous experience of weightlessness as well as anti-nausea medication. Analysis of event related potentials showed a decreased amplitude of the N100-P200 complex in weightlessness but was not able to distinguish a possible effect of task complexity. The present study aimed to extend this previous work, by comparing behavioral (reaction time)and neurological (event related potentials analysis)performance to a simple (oddball)and a complex (mental arithmetic + oddball)task during weightlessness. 28 participants participated in two experiments. 11 participants performed a simple oddball experiment in the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. 17 participants were presented a complex arithmetic task in combination with an oddball task during the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. Reaction time as well as event related potentials (ERP)were assessed. Results revealed a reduced reaction time (p <.05)for the complex task during 0G. No gravity effects on reaction time were found for the simple task. In both experiments a reduction of typical ERP amplitudes was noticeable in weightlessness. It is assumed that the weightlessness induced fluid shift to the brain is positively affecting neuro-behavioral performance.
KW - EEG
KW - ERP
KW - Electro-cortical processing
KW - Oddball
KW - Parabolic flight
KW - Reaction time
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U2 - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.04.021
DO - 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.04.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 31029651
AN - SCOPUS:85065124467
SN - 0031-9384
VL - 207
SP - 48
EP - 54
JO - Physiology and Behavior
JF - Physiology and Behavior
ER -