How do interplanetary flights affect brains of astronauts?

Russian scientists have established how spaceflight affects the brains of astronauts, Moscow State University’s press service reported.

According to the source, galactic cosmic rays can help increase the learning ability of astronauts performing interplanetary flights.

A group of scientists from leading Russian scientific centers conducted experiments on rats, which were irradiated with heavy charged particles (nickel and iron nuclei) and gamma rays. These doses can be compared with radiation that astronauts can receive during an 860-day flight.

The rats exposed to radiation showed higher values ​​in tests for orientation in space in comparison with the control groups.

The fact is that in rats from the control and experimental groups the concentrations of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain were different. As you know, these molecules act as neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. So, glutamate - excites, while GABA - inhibits.

As studies have shown, the GABA level was reduced in exposed rats, which ultimately affected the activation of the central nervous system.

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