Your Brain On... Space Travel

Space travel goes against a million years of human evolution. So how does it affect our brains? In just six decades of manned space flights, we’ve discovered a remarkable amount about the neurological effects of venturing to the stars. In this episode of ‘YOUR BRAIN ON...’ we discuss: • How low gravity changes your brain structure, impacts your balance, and... actually might improve your sleep • The cognitive dangers of space travel, from the mania of isolation to the destructive forces of cosmic radiation • Why we’re evolutionary drawn to explore other worlds and believe in aliens • What spaceflight can teach us about neuroplasticity and cogntive decline This episode, we’re joined by: DR. JAY BUCKEY, astronaut and space physiologist, who, in 1998, was part of the Neurolab mission, going to space for 16 days to study the effects of spaceflight on the brain and nervous system. DR. SHEYNA GIFFORD, aerospace medic, who famously spent a year in a simulation of Mars on a volcano in Hawaii, to study the psychological impacts of long-term space travel. DR. RACHAEL SEIDLER, Professor in the Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology at the University of Florida, and an expert on spaceflight’s affects on neuroplasticity. EMILY CALANDRELLI, renowned science educator and engineer, who highlights how what we learn while exploring space greatly benefits our lives down here on Earth. ‘Your Brain On’ is hosted by neuroscientists and public health advocates Ayesha and Dean Sherzai. ‘Your Brain On... SPACE TRAVEL’ • SEASON 2 • EPISODE 1   👉 LINKS Dr. Jay Buckey at Dartmouth: https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/faculty/facultydb/view.php/?uid=426 Dr. Sheyna Gifford’s website: https://sheynagifford.com/ Dr. Rachael Seidler at University of Florida: https://hhp.ufl.edu/about/faculty-staff/seidler_rachael/ Dr. Rachael Seidler on Twitter (AKA ‘X’): https://twitter.com/SeidlerRachael Emily Calandrelli’s website, ‘The Space Gal’: https://www.thespacegal.com/ Emily Calandrelli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespacegal Emily Calandrelli on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thespacegal   👉 FOLLOW US Join the NEURO Academy: NEUROacademy.com Instagram: @thebraindocs Website: TheBrainDocs.com More info and episodes: TheBrainDocs.com/Podcast