Neurocognitive performance is enhanced during short periods of microgravity—Part 2

Publication date: Available online 25 April 2019Source: Physiology & BehaviorAuthor(s): Petra Wollseiffen, Timo Klein, Tobias Vogt, Vera Abeln, Heiko K. Strüder, Tim Stuckenschneider, Marit Sanders, Jurgen A.H.R. Claassen, Christopher D. Askew, Heather Carnahan, Stefan SchneiderAbstractPrevious 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 ...

Source: Physiology and Behavior - April 26, 2019 Category: Physiology Source Type: research