Resumen de Cortical reorganization in an astronaut's brain after long-duration spaceflight.

Athena Demertzi, Angelique Van Ombergen, Elena Tomilovskaya, Ben Jeurissen, Ekaterina Pechenkova, Carol Di Perri, Liudmila Litvinova, Enrico Amico, Alena Rumshiskaya, Ilya Rukavishnikov, Jan Sijbers, Valentin Sinitsyn, Inessa B Kozlovskaya, Stefan Sunaert, Paul M Parizel, Paul H Van de Heyning, Steven Laureys, Floris L Wuyts

• To date, hampered physiological function after exposure to microgravity has been primarily attributed to deprived peripheral neuro-sensory systems. For the first time, this study elucidates alterations in human brain function after long-duration spaceflight. More specifically, we found significant differences in resting-state functional connectivity between motor cortex and cerebellum, as well as changes within the default mode network. In addition, the cosmonaut showed changes in the supplementary motor areas during a motor imagery task. These results highlight the underlying neural basis for the observed physiological deconditioning due to spaceflight and are relevant for future interplanetary missions and vestibular patients.;