Radiation: behavioral implications in space.

Since future space missions are likely to be beyond Earth's protective atmosphere, a potentially significant hazard is radiation. The following behavioral situations are addressed in this paper: (1) space radiations are more effective at disrupting behavior; (2) task demands can aggravate the radiation-disruption; (3) efforts to mitigate disruption with drugs or shielding are not satisfactory and the drugs can be behaviorally toxic; and (4) space- and radiation-induced emesis combined may be synergistic. Thus, future space travel will be a demanding, exciting time for behavioral toxicologists, and while the circumstances may seem insurmountable at first, creative application of scientific expertise should illicit solutions, similar to demanding situations confronted before.