Christian Brem1, Jürgen Lutz2, Christian Vollmar3, Matthias Feuerecker4, Claudia Strewe4, Igor Nichiporuk5, Galina Vassilieva5, Gustav Schelling4, Alexander Choukér6. 1. Department of Neuroradiology, Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU), Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81377, Munich, Germany. 2. Radiologisches Zentrum München-Pasing, Pippinger Str. 25, D-81245 Munich, Germany. 3. Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU), Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81377, Munich, Germany. 4. Department of Anaesthesiology & Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity" at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU), Marchioninstraße 15, 81377 München, Munich, Germany. 5. Institute for Biomedical Problems, Moscow, Russian Federation. 6. Department of Anaesthesiology & Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity" at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU), Marchioninstraße 15, 81377 München, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: achouker@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Long-term confinement is known to be a stressful experience with multiple psycho-physiological effects. In the MARS500 project, a real-time simulation of a space-flight to Mars conducted in a hermetically isolated habitat, effects of long-term confinement could be investigated in a unique manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of long-term-confinement on brain cytoarchitecture. MATERIAL & METHODS: The participants of the MARS500 project underwent 3T-MR imaging including a dedicated DTI-sequence before the isolation, right after ending of confinement and 6 months after the experiment. Voxelwise statistical analysis of the DTI data was carried out using tract-based-spatial statistics, comparing an age-matched control group. RESULTS: At all three sessions, significant lower fractional anisotropy (FA) than in controls was found in the anterior parts of the callosal body of the participants. Furthermore, after ending of confinement a wide-spread FA reduction could be seen in the right hemisphere culminating in the temporo-parietal-junction-zone. All these areas with decreased FA predominantly showed an elevated radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity while axial diffusivity was less correlated. DISCUSSION: Long-term confinement does have measurable effects on the microstructure of the brain white matter. We assume effects of sensory deprivation to account for the regional FA reductions seen in the right TPJ. The differences in the Corpus callosum were interpreted as due to preliminary conditions, e.g. personality traits or training effects. FA and radial diffusivity were the predominant DTI parameters with significant changes, suggesting underlying processes of myelin plasticity.
INTRODUCTION: Long-term confinement is known to be a stressful experience with multiple psycho-physiological effects. In the MARS500 project, a real-time simulation of a space-flight to Mars conducted in a hermetically isolated habitat, effects of long-term confinement could be investigated in a unique manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of long-term-confinement on brain cytoarchitecture. MATERIAL & METHODS: The participants of the MARS500 project underwent 3T-MR imaging including a dedicated DTI-sequence before the isolation, right after ending of confinement and 6 months after the experiment. Voxelwise statistical analysis of the DTI data was carried out using tract-based-spatial statistics, comparing an age-matched control group. RESULTS: At all three sessions, significant lower fractional anisotropy (FA) than in controls was found in the anterior parts of the callosal body of the participants. Furthermore, after ending of confinement a wide-spread FA reduction could be seen in the right hemisphere culminating in the temporo-parietal-junction-zone. All these areas with decreased FA predominantly showed an elevated radial diffusivity and mean diffusivity while axial diffusivity was less correlated. DISCUSSION: Long-term confinement does have measurable effects on the microstructure of the brain white matter. We assume effects of sensory deprivation to account for the regional FA reductions seen in the right TPJ. The differences in the Corpus callosum were interpreted as due to preliminary conditions, e.g. personality traits or training effects. FA and radial diffusivity were the predominant DTI parameters with significant changes, suggesting underlying processes of myelin plasticity.
Authors: Federica Somma; Paolo Bartolomeo; Federica Vallone; Antonietta Argiuolo; Antonio Cerrato; Orazio Miglino; Laura Mandolesi; Maria Clelia Zurlo; Onofrio Gigliotta Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2021-02-24