Curriculum
Neuroscience, Technology and Society, XXXIX series
Grant sponsor
CISDAS Fellowship
Supervisor

Alessandro Angrili
Co-supervisor
s
TBD
Contact
giovanna.tedesco@studenti.unipd.it

Project description
Head-down bed rest (HDBR) is a well-established method used for simulating microgravity, as well as some of the neurophysiological alterations experienced during spaceflights. Previous electroencephalography (EEG) studies have demonstrated that both short- and long-term HDBR can alter cognitive performance and emotional processing, as reflected by slower reaction times and specific signs of cortical inhibition (e.g. blunted event-related potentials in response to affective stimuli; increases in the spectral power of low frequency EEG activity). Despite offering interesting prospects, previous results are far from being conclusive, mainly due to small sample sizes, as well as variations in methodology and statistical analyses across the different experiments. Moreover, while most of the studies have included only relatively young adults, astronaut corps have evolved to include a wide age range, reflecting the longer career spans of these professionals. Based on these premises, the present study is aimed at investigating the cognitive, emotional and neurophysiological effects of a relatively short period (2 hours) of HDBR in middle-aged adults (40-65 years old), with a specific emphasis on brain activity and resting-state functional connectivity, as measured through high-density EEG.