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Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2021 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 11/30/2020  
Task Last Updated: 02/19/2021 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: N/A
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Whitmire, Alexandra  
Center Contact:  
alexandra.m.whitmire@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 0 
No. of Master's Degrees: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date changed to 11/30/2020 per NSSC information (Ed., 10/22/20)

NOTE: End date updated to 3/31/2020 per NSSC information (Ed., 11/12/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 10/31/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 5/8/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 4/30/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 1/23/19)

NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation,” i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500), and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE (isolated, confined, and extreme) environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: With the proposed work we will relevantly contribute to the goal of the Human Research Program (HRP) to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. More specifically, our findings, based on state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies and on innovative, non-invasive, low burden, yet methodologically sound measurement technologies for cognitive, physiological, and crew cohesion outcomes, will relevantly contribute to the development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks. These methodologies will also be useful for assessing subjects living in isolated, confined, and extreme environments on Earth.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2021 
Task Progress: We accomplished the following:

1) Final results were presented at Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop in February 2021.

2) Actigraphy and HRV (hear rate variability) analyses were completed.

3) Biomarker analyses for inflammatory cytokines (IL) Il-1, IL-6, nerve growth factor (NGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Vit D were completed.

4) Final report was generated.

This study addressed the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We investigated the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long duration space missions. This countermeasure took into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation,” i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We investigated a crew of N=7-8 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer III station (total N=15). We investigated both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes were neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery. We also assessed biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports as additional outcomes that provided insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data were compared to historic controls from Neumayer III station.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Basner M, Moore TM, Nasrini J, Gur RC, Dinges DF. "Response speed measurements on the Psychomotor Vigilance Test: How precise is precise enough?" Sleep. 2021 Jan 21;44(1):zsaa121. Epub 2020 Jul 2. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsaa121 ; PMID: 32556295 , Jan-2021
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Smith MG, Kelley M, Basner M. "A brief history of spaceflight from 1961 to 2020: An analysis of missions and astronaut demographics." Acta Astronaut. 2020 Oct;175:290-9. Epub 2020 Jun 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2020.06.004 ; PMID: 32801403; PMCID: PMC7422727 , Oct-2020
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Basner M, Stahn AC, Nasrini J, Dinges DF, Moore TM, Gur RC, Mühl C, Macias BR, Laurie SS. "Effects of head-down tilt bed rest plus elevated CO2 on cognitive performance." J Appl Physiol (1985). 2021 Apr 1;130(4):1235-46. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00865.2020 ; PMID: 33630672 , Apr-2021
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2020 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 11/30/2020  
Task Last Updated: 04/30/2020 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: N/A
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Williams, Thomas  
Center Contact: 281-483-8773 
thomas.j.will1@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 0 
No. of Master's Degrees: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date changed to 11/30/2020 per NSSC information (Ed., 10/22/20)

NOTE: End date updated to 3/31/2020 per NSSC information (Ed., 11/12/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 10/31/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 5/8/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 4/30/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 1/23/19)

NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation,” i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500), and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE (isolated, confined, and extreme) environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: With the proposed work we will relevantly contribute to the goal of the Human Research Program (HRP) to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. More specifically, our findings, based on state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies and on innovative, non-invasive, low burden, yet methodologically sound measurement technologies for cognitive, physiological, and crew cohesion outcomes, will relevantly contribute to the development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks. These methodologies will also be useful for assessing subjects living in isolated, confined, and extreme environments on Earth.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2020 
Task Progress: In the fourth year of the study we accomplished the following:

We analyzed neuroimaging and cognitive performance data. Results were presented at Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop in January 2020 in Galveston, TX. Actigraphy and heart rate variability (HRV) analyses are near completion. Biomarker analyses for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were completed, but due to Covid-19, inflammatory cytokines (IL) Il-1, IL-6, nerve growth factor (NGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and Vit D still need to be processed.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2020
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2019 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 03/31/2020  
Task Last Updated: 02/22/2019 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: N/A
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Williams, Thomas  
Center Contact: 281-483-8773 
thomas.j.will1@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 0 
No. of Master's Degrees: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date updated to 3/31/2020 per NSSC information (Ed., 11/12/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 10/31/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 5/8/19)

NOTE: End date updated to 4/30/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 1/23/19)

NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation”, i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500), and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE (isolated, confined, and extreme) environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: With the proposed work we will relevantly contribute to the goal of the Human Research Program (HRP) to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. More specifically, our findings, based on state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies and on innovative, non-invasive, low burden, yet methodologically sound measurement technologies for cognitive, physiological, and crew cohesion outcomes, will relevantly contribute to the development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks. These methodologies will also be useful for assessing subjects living in isolated, confined, and extreme environments on Earth.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2019 
Task Progress: In the third year of the study (this reporting period), we accomplished the following:

1) Finalized data acquisition in Antarctica in the 2018 winter-over crew (N=9),

2) Performed post-mission data acquisition (including neuroimaging) at Charité Berlin in the 2018 winter-over crew in March 2019.

Data acquisition in Antarctica was finalized for both the 2017 and the 2018 winter-over crew according to plan. Adherence to the Hybrid Training protocol was satisfactory after the introduction of a compensation. Adherence to the other components of the protocol were high for an operational environment like Neumayer. Data analysis is underway, but we expect that we need a no-cost extension of the project to allow us enough time to thoroughly analyze the large amount of data collected before, during, and after the two winter-overs.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals Boland EM, Rao H, Dinges DF, Smith RV, Goel N, Detre JA, Basner M, Sheline YI, Thase ME, Gehrman PR. "Meta-analysis of the antidepressant effects of acute sleep deprivation." J Clin Psychiatry. 2017 Sep/Oct;78(8):e1020-e1034. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.16r11332 ; PubMed PMID: 28937707 , Sep-2017
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2018 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 04/30/2019  
Task Last Updated: 02/16/2018 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: N/A
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Williams, Thomas  
Center Contact: 281-483-8773 
thomas.j.will1@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 0 
No. of Master's Degrees: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: End date updated to 4/30/2019 per NSSC information (Ed., 1/23/19)

NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation”, i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500), and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE (isolated, confined, and extreme) environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: With the proposed work we will relevantly contribute to the goal of the Human Research Program (HRP) to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. More specifically, our findings, based on state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies and on innovative, non-invasive, low burden, yet methodologically sound measurement technologies for cognitive, physiological, and crew cohesion outcomes, will relevantly contribute to the development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks. These methodologies will also be useful for assessing subjects living in isolated, confined, and extreme environments on Earth.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2018 
Task Progress: In the past 12 months, we accomplished the following project milestones:

1) briefed N=9 subjects, obtained informed consent, and performed baseline data acquisition (including neuroimaging) at Charité Berlin for the 2018 winter-over crew,

2) finalized data acquisition in Antarctica in the 2017 winter-over crew,

3) performed post-mission data acquisition (including neuroimaging) at Charité Berlin in the 2017 winter-over crew in March 2018.

Overall, data acquisition rates and data quality were high for the 2017 winter-over crew.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2018
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2017 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 04/18/2019  
Task Last Updated: 02/13/2017 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
MGuire, Sarah  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Key Personnel Changes / Previous PI: N/A
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor: Williams, Thomas  
Center Contact: 281-483-8773 
thomas.j.will1@nasa.gov 
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs: 0 
No. of PhD Candidates: 0 
No. of Master's Candidates: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0  		No. of PhD Degrees: 0 
No. of Master's Degrees: 0 
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0 
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation”, i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500), and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE (isolated, confined, and extreme) environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits: With the proposed work we will relevantly contribute to the goal of the Human Research Program (HRP) to provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. More specifically, our findings, based on state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies and on innovative, non-invasive, low burden, yet methodologically sound measurement technologies for cognitive, physiological, and crew cohesion outcomes, will relevantly contribute to the development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks. These methodologies will also be useful for assessing subjects living in isolated, confined, and extreme environments on Earth.

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2017 
Task Progress: In the past 12 months, we accomplished the following project milestones:

1) received IRB (institutional review board) approval from all relevant institutions (NASA, University of Pennsylvania, Charité Berlin),

2) tested and selected the Hybrid Training equipment (Expresso HD Upright Bike),

3) purchased and prepared measurement equipment, shipped it, and installed it at Charité Berlin (for pre- and post-mission measurements) and at the Antarctic Neumayer station,

4) generated procedures for research subjects and wrote software for data harvesting,

5) briefed subjects, obtained informed consent, and performed baseline data acquisition (including neuroimaging) at Charité Berlin,

6) started data acquisition at Neumayer station in N=7 subjects that consented to take part in the study.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2017
Back to Search Results    
Project Title:  Hybrid Training - A Sensory Stimulation Countermeasure for Long Duration Space Exploration Missions Reduce
Images: icon  Fiscal Year: FY 2016 
Division: Human Research 
Research Discipline/Element:
HRP HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
 Start Date: 04/19/2016  
End Date: 04/18/2019  
Task Last Updated: 05/17/2016 		 Download report in PDF pdf
Principal Investigator/Affiliation:   Basner, Mathias  M.D., Ph.D. / University of Pennsylvania 
Address:  Department of Psychiatry, Division of Sleep and Chronobiology 
423 Service Dr, 1013 Blockley Hall 
Philadelphia , PA 19104-4209 		 Email: basner@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 
Phone: 215-573-5866  
Congressional District: 2 
Web:  
 Organization Type: UNIVERSITY 
Organization Name: University of Pennsylvania 
Joint Agency:  
Comments:  
Co-Investigator(s)
Affiliation: 
Dinges, David  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Gur, Ruben  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
MGuire, Sarah  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Stahn, Alexander  Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 
Project Information: Grant/Contract No. NNX16AI53G 
Responsible Center: NASA JSC 
Grant Monitor:  
Center Contact:   
Unique ID: 10808  		Solicitation / Funding Source: 2014-15 HERO NNJ14ZSA001N-MIXEDTOPICS. Appendix E: Behavioral Health & Human Health Countermeasures Topics 
Grant/Contract No.: NNX16AI53G 
Project Type: GROUND 
Flight Program:  
TechPort: No  		No. of Post Docs:  
No. of PhD Candidates:  
No. of Master's Candidates:  
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:   		No. of PhD Degrees:  
No. of Master's Degrees:  
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:  
Human Research Program Elements: (1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
Human Research Program Risks: (1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders
Human Research Program Gaps: (1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions.
(2) BMed-103:What are the validated, efficacious treatments (individual or Team-based) and/or countermeasures to prevent adverse behavioral conditions, CNS/neurological, and/or psychiatric disorders caused by either single and/or integrated exposures to spaceflight hazards during exploration class missions?
(3) BMed-104:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated modifications to habitat/vehicle to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(4) BMed-105:Given the potentially negative spaceflight associated CNS/cognitive changes and behavioral experiences of stressors during long-duration missions (e.g., isolation, confinement, reduced sensory stimulation, altered gravity, space radiation), what are validated medical or dietary countermeasures to mitigate stressors impacting on CNS / cognition / behavioral health?
(5) BMed-107:What are the long-term changes and risks to astronaut health post-mission that, when using a continuity of care model, helps retrospectively identify and understand individual susceptibility (e.g., hereditary, dose, thresholds) to mitigate adverse CNS, cognitive, and behavioral health changes resulting from long-duration exploration missions, promoting the behavioral health of current and future crews?
Flight Assignment/Project Notes: NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Behavioral Health & Performance (Ed., 1/17/17)

Task Description: This proposal addresses the risk of Adverse Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders, and the need to identify and validate countermeasures and effective methods for modifying the habitat/vehicle environment that promote individual behavioral health and performance during exploration class missions (BMed1, BMed7). We propose to investigate the efficacy of physical exercise (using a cycle ergometer) combined with an interactive virtual environment, i.e., Hybrid Training, as a countermeasure for augmenting sensory stimulation during long-duration space missions. This countermeasure will combine validated tools and VR (virtual reality) technologies in a new way to reveal the full potential of Hybrid Training, and take into account (a) key needs that fulfill sensory stimulation, (b) “hedonic adaptation”, i.e., a reduced affective response to stimuli with continued or repeated exposure, (c) delivery schedule, and (d) size, mass, and volume requirements. We plan to investigate a crew of N=9 during two 12-14 month Antarctic winter-over missions in Neumayer station (total N=18). We will investigate both immediate and long-term benefits of Hybrid Training. Our primary outcomes are neurostructural and neurofunctional changes assessed with fMRI, and cognitive performance assessed with the Cognition test battery and a virtual maze. We will also assess biochemical markers of stress and neuroplasticity, objective measures of sleep-wake rhythmicity and sleep structure, subjective symptom reports, and group cohesion with unobtrusive proximity measurements as additional outcomes that will provide insights into mechanisms and consequences of the observed structural and functional brain changes, and their reversibility by Hybrid Training. These data will be compared to historic controls from Neumayer station and other Antarctic stations (Concordia, Halley), space analog environments (e.g., Mars500) and the International Space Station (ISS). At the end of the project, we will have a much clearer understanding whether and to what extent the detrimental effects of ICE environments on neuroplasticity and behavioral health can be mitigated by Hybrid Training.

Research Impact/Earth Benefits:

Task Progress & Bibliography Information FY2016 
Task Progress: New project for FY2016.

Bibliography: Description: (Last Updated: 04/05/2024) 

Show Cumulative Bibliography
 
 None in FY 2016
Back to Search Results