@article {2270, title = {Prolonged microgravity induces reversible and persistent changes on human cerebral connectivity}, journal = {Communications Biology}, volume = {6}, year = {2023}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-04382-w}, author = {Steven Jillings and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Elena Tomilovskaya and Ilya Rukavishnikov and Ben Jeurissen and Angelique Van Ombergen and Nosikova, Inna and Alena Rumshiskaya and Liudmila Litvinova and Annen, Jitka and Chloe De Laet and Catho Schoenmaekers and Jan Sijbers and Petrovichev, Victor and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Valentin Sinitsyn and zu Eulenburg, P and Steven S L Laureys and Athena Demertzi and Floris L Wuyts} } @article {2216, title = {Brain Connectometry Changes in Space Travelers After Long-Duration Spaceflight}, journal = {Front. Neural Circuits}, volume = {16}, year = {2022}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2022.815838}, author = {Andrei Doroshin and Steven Jillings and Ben Jeurissen and Elena Tomilovskaya and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Nosikova, Inna and Alena Rumshiskaya and Liudmila Litvinova and Ilya Rukavishnikov and Chloe De Laet and Catho Schoenmaekers and Jan Sijbers and Steven S L Laureys and Petrovichev, Victor and Angelique Van Ombergen and Jitka Annen and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Valentin Sinitsyn and zu Eulenburg, Peter and Karol Osipowicz and Floris L Wuyts} } @article {2215, title = {The effect of prolonged Spaceflight on Cerebrospinal Fluid and Perivascular Spaces of Astronauts and Cosmonauts}, journal = {PNAS}, volume = {119}, year = {2022}, chapter = {e2120439119}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120439119}, author = {Giuseppe Barisano and Farshid Sepehrband and Heather R. Collins and Steven Jillings and Ben Jeurissen and Andrew J. Taylor and Catho Schoenmaekers and Chloe De Laet and Ilya Rukavishnikov and Inna Nosikova and Alena Rumshiskaya and Jitka Annen and Jan Sijbers and Steven S L Laureys and Angelique Van Ombergen and Petrovichev, Victor and Valentin Sinitsyn and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Alexey Grishin and Peter zu Eulenburg and Meng Law and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M. Parizel and Elena Tomilovskaya and Donna Roberts and Floris L Wuyts} } @mastersthesis {2140, title = {The impact of long-duration spaceflight on brain structure and function}, volume = {Doctor of Science}, year = {2021}, school = {University of Antwerp}, type = {PhD thesis}, abstract = {In over half a century of crewed missions to space, many different effects of spaceflight on the human body have been uncovered so far. However, little focus has been directed to investigating how space stressors affect the human brain. The largest body of work in this dissertation describes pioneering findings on brain structural and functional changes after spaceflight in Roscosmos cosmonauts by means of multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a longitudinal and prospective design. Structural MRI modalities, such as T1-weighted and diffusion MRI, were used to unravel macroscopic volume and microstructural brain tissue composition changes. We found a widespread redistribution of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with secondary mechanistic effects on the grey matter (GM) tissue. We also revealed increased neural tissue volume in motor regions of the brain that suggest evidence for structural brain adaptations, also known as neuroplasticity, associated with altered motor strategies in space. Most CSF changes after spaceflight were still detectable more than half a year after return to Earth, while the GM changes after spaceflight partially reversed in the long term. In addition, functional MRI data was acquired in these cosmonauts to study functional reorganisation of the brain after spaceflight, showing numerous functional connectivity (FC) alterations after spaceflight. Some of these changes persisted in the longer-term, whereas other changes returned back to pre-flight levels. Furthermore, this work also describes the experimental work and preliminary analyses of several Earth-based models. One is a longitudinal MRI pilot study in hindlimb-unloaded (HLU) mice, inducing fluid shifts to the head region, in order to better understand the consequence of these fluid shifts on the brain. A second study was performed in fighter pilots as a model for exposure to high g-levels and sensory conflicts, in which FC was compared to that in a control group. This work rendered a vast increase in available information on structural and functional brain changes after spaceflight compared to several years ago. In the future, the underlying mechanisms of the observed findings need to be understood in more detail. Ultimately, we aim to characterise the effects space stressors have on the brain, to then attempt to mitigate these changes through countermeasures and characterise beneficial coping mechanisms that we can enhance, in order to be fully prepared for future exploration missions into deep space.}, author = {Steven Jillings} } @conference {Jillings2020-nb, title = {Diffusion MRI reveals macro- and microstructural changes in cosmonauts{\textquoteright} brains after long-duration spaceflight}, year = {2020}, pages = {4531}, author = {Jillings, S and Angelique Van Ombergen and Tomilovskaya, E and Rumshiskaya, A and Litvinova, L and Nosikova, I and Pechenkova, E and Rukavishnikov, I and Kozlovskaya, I and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Sinitsyn, V and Petrovichev, V and Laureys, S and zu Eulenburg, P and Jan Sijbers and Floris L Wuyts and Ben Jeurissen} } @article {2074, title = {Macro- and microstructural changes in cosmonauts{\textquoteright} brains after long-duration spaceflight}, journal = {Science Advances}, volume = {6}, year = {2020}, month = {Apr-09-2020}, pages = {eaaz9488}, abstract = {Long-duration spaceflight causes widespread physiological changes, although its effect on brain structure remains poorly understood. In this work, we acquired diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to investigate alterations of white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compositions in each voxel, before, shortly after, and 7 months after long-duration spaceflight. We found increased WM in the cerebellum after spaceflight, providing the first clear evidence of sensorimotor neuroplasticity. At the region of interest level, this increase persisted 7 months after return to Earth. We also observe a widespread redistribution of CSF, with concomitant changes in the voxel fractions of adjacent GM. We show that these GM changes are the result of morphological changes rather than net tissue loss, which remained unclear from previous studies. Our study provides evidence of spaceflight-induced neuroplasticity to adapt motor strategies in space and evidence of fluid shift{\textendash}induced mechanical changes in the brain.}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aaz9488}, url = {https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/36/eaaz9488}, author = {Jillings, Steven and Angelique Van Ombergen and Tomilovskaya, Elena and Rumshiskaya, Alena and Litvinova, Liudmila and Nosikova, Inna and Pechenkova, Ekaterina and Rukavishnikov, Ilya and Kozlovskaya, Inessa B. and Manko, Olga and Danilichev, Sergey and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Sinitsyn, Valentin and Petrovichev, Victor and Laureys, Steven and zu Eulenburg, Peter and Jan Sijbers and Floris L Wuyts and Ben Jeurissen} } @article {1964, title = {Alterations of Functional Brain Connectivity After Long-Duration Spaceflight as Revealed by fMRI.}, journal = {Front Physiol}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, pages = {1-23}, abstract = {

The present study reports alterations of task-based functional brain connectivity in a group of 11 cosmonauts after a long-duration spaceflight, compared to a healthy control group not involved in the space program. To elicit the postural and locomotor sensorimotor mechanisms that are usually most significantly impaired when space travelers return to Earth, a plantar stimulation paradigm was used in a block design fMRI study. The motor control system activated by the plantar stimulation involved the pre-central and post-central gyri, SMA, SII/operculum, and, to a lesser degree, the insular cortex and cerebellum. While no post-flight alterations were observed in terms of activation, the network-based statistics approach revealed task-specific functional connectivity modifications within a broader set of regions involving the activation sites along with other parts of the sensorimotor neural network and the visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems. The most notable findings included a post-flight increase in the stimulation-specific connectivity of the right posterior supramarginal gyrus with the rest of the brain; a strengthening of connections between the left and right insulae; decreased connectivity of the vestibular nuclei, right inferior parietal cortex (BA40) and cerebellum with areas associated with motor, visual, vestibular, and proprioception functions; and decreased coupling of the cerebellum with the visual cortex and the right inferior parietal cortex. The severity of space motion sickness symptoms was found to correlate with a post- to pre-flight difference in connectivity between the right supramarginal gyrus and the left anterior insula. Due to the complex nature and rapid dynamics of adaptation to gravity alterations, the post-flight findings might be attributed to both the long-term microgravity exposure and to the readaptation to Earth{\textquoteright}s gravity that took place between the landing and post-flight MRI session. Nevertheless, the results have implications for the multisensory reweighting and gravitational motor system theories, generating hypotheses to be tested in future research.

}, issn = {1664-042X}, doi = {10.3389/fphys.2019.00761}, author = {Pechenkova, Ekaterina and Nosikova, Inna and Rumshiskaya, Alena and Litvinova, Liudmila and Rukavishnikov, Ilya and Mershina, Elena and Valentin Sinitsyn and Angelique Van Ombergen and Ben Jeurissen and Jillings, Steven and Laureys, Steven and Jan Sijbers and Grishin, Alexey and Chernikova, Ludmila and Naumov, Ivan and Kornilova, Ludmila and Floris L Wuyts and Tomilovskaya, Elena and Kozlovskaya, Inessa} } @article {1941, title = {Brain ventricular volume changes induced by long-duration spaceflight}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, volume = {116}, year = {2019}, pages = {10531-10536}, abstract = {Long-duration spaceflight induces detrimental changes in human physiology due to microgravity. One example is a cephalic fluid shift. Here, we prospectively investigated the quantitative changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume of the brain ventricular regions in space crew by means of a region of interest, observer-independent analysis on structural brain MRI scans. MRI scans were collected before the mission, shortly after and 7 mo after return to Earth. We found a significant increase in lateral and third ventricles at postflight and a trend to normalization at follow-up, but still significantly increased ventricular volumes. The observed spatiotemporal pattern of CSF compartment enlargement and recovery points to a reduced CSF resorption in microgravity as the underlying cause.Long-duration spaceflight induces detrimental changes in human physiology. Its residual effects and mechanisms remain unclear. We prospectively investigated the changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume of the brain ventricular regions in space crew by means of a region of interest analysis on structural brain scans. Cosmonaut MRI data were investigated preflight (n = 11), postflight (n = 11), and at long-term follow-up 7 mo after landing (n = 7). Post hoc analyses revealed a significant difference between preflight and postflight values for all supratentorial ventricular structures, i.e., lateral ventricle (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 13.3 {\textpm} 1.9), third ventricle (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 10.4 {\textpm} 1.1), and the total ventricular volume (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 11.6 {\textpm} 1.5) (all P \< 0.0001), with higher volumes at postflight. At follow-up, these structures did not quite reach baseline levels, with still residual increases in volume for the lateral ventricle (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 7.7 {\textpm} 1.6; P = 0.0009), the third ventricle (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 4.7 {\textpm} 1.3; P = 0.0063), and the total ventricular volume (mean \% change {\textpm} SE = 6.4 {\textpm} 1.3; P = 0.0008). This spatiotemporal pattern of CSF compartment enlargement and recovery points to a reduced CSF resorption in microgravity as the underlying cause. Our results warrant more detailed and longer longitudinal follow-up. The clinical impact of our findings on the long-term cosmonauts{\textquoteright} health and their relation to ocular changes reported in space travelers requires further prospective studies.}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1820354116}, url = {https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/05/01/1820354116}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Steven Jillings and Ben Jeurissen and Tomilovskaya, Elena and Alena Rumshiskaya and Liudmila Litvinova and Nosikova, Inna and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Ilya Rukavishnikov and Manko, Olga and Danylichev, Sergey and R{\"u}hl, R. Maxine and Inessa B. Kozlovskaya and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Valentin Sinitsyn and Steven S L Laureys and Jan Sijbers and zu Eulenburg, Peter and Floris L Wuyts} } @conference {Jillings2019-al, title = {Diffusion-weighted imaging reveals structural brain changes in cosmonauts after long-duration spaceflight}, volume = {32 (Suppl. 1)}, year = {2019}, pages = {Magn Reson Mater Phy. 2019; 32(Suppl. 1):S101}, author = {Jillings, S and Angelique Van Ombergen and Tomilovskaya, E and Laureys, S and zu Eulenburg, P and Stefan Sunaert and Jan Sijbers and Floris L Wuyts and Ben Jeurissen} } @conference {Wuyts2019-xr, title = {Novel insight on effect and recovery of long-duration spaceflight on the ventricles of the space traveller{\textquoteright}s brain}, volume = {2019}, year = {2019}, pages = {IAC{\textendash}19_A1_2_4_x51230}, publisher = {International Astronautical Federation}, author = {Floris L Wuyts and Jillings, Steven and Angelique Van Ombergen and Ben Jeurissen and Tomilovskaya, Elena and Rumshiskaya, Alena and Litvinova, Liudmila and Nosikova, Inna and Pechenkova, Ekaterina and Rukavishnikov, Ilya and others} } @article {1908, title = {Brain Tissue{\textendash}Volume Changes in Cosmonauts}, journal = {New England Journal of Medicine}, volume = {379}, year = {2018}, pages = {1678 - 1680}, issn = {0028-4793}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMc1809011}, url = {http://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc1809011}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Steven Jillings and Ben Jeurissen and Tomilovskaya, Elena and R{\"u}hl, Maxine and Alena Rumshiskaya and Nosikova, Inna and Liudmila Litvinova and Annen, Jitka and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Inessa B. Kozlovskaya and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Valentin Sinitsyn and Steven S L Laureys and Jan Sijbers and zu Eulenburg, Peter and Floris L Wuyts} } @conference {1949, title = {Changes in intrinsic functional brain connectivity after first-time exposure to parabolic flight}, year = {2018}, doi = {10.3389/conf.fphys.2018.26.00017}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Floris L Wuyts and Ben Jeurissen and Jan Sijbers and Floris Vanhevel and Steven Jillings and Paul M Parizel and Stefan Sunaert and Paul H Van de Heyning and Vincent Dousset and Steven S L Laureys and Athena Demertzi} } @article {1752, title = {Altered functional brain connectivity in patients with visually induced dizziness}, journal = {NeuroImage: Clinical}, volume = {14}, year = {2017}, pages = {538{\textendash}545}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2017.02.020}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Lizette Heine and Steven Jillings and Edward Roberts and Ben Jeurissen and V. Van Rompaey and Viviana Mucci and Stefanie Vanhecke and Jan Sijbers and Floris Vanhevel and Stefan Sunaert and Mohamed Ali Bahri and Paul M Parizel and Paul H Van de Heyning and Steven S L Laureys and Floris L Wuyts} } @article {1756, title = {The effect of spaceflight and microgravity on the human brain}, journal = {Journal of Neurology}, volume = {246}, year = {2017}, pages = {18-22}, doi = {10.1007/s00415-017-8427-x}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Athena Demertzi and Elena Tomilovskaya and Ben Jeurissen and Jan Sijbers and Inessa B. Kozlovskaya and Paul M Parizel and Paul H Van de Heyning and Stefan Sunaert and Steven S L Laureys and Floris L Wuyts} } @article {1762, title = {Intrinsic connectivity reduces in vestibular-related regions after first-time exposure to short-term gravitational alterations}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {7}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-017-03170-5}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Floris L Wuyts and Ben Jeurissen and Jan Sijbers and Floris Vanhevel and Steven Jillings and Paul M Parizel and Stefan Sunaert and Paul H Van de Heyning and Vincent Dousset and Steven S L Laureys and Athena Demertzi} } @article {1584, title = {Cortical reorganization in an astronaut{\textquoteright}s brain after long-duration spaceflight}, journal = {Brain Structure and Function}, volume = {221}, year = {2016}, pages = {2873{\textendash}2876}, doi = {10.1007/s00429-015-1054-3}, author = {Athena Demertzi and Angelique Van Ombergen and Elena Tomilovskaya and Ben Jeurissen and Ekaterina V. Pechenkova and Carol Di Perri and Liudmila Litvinova and Enrico Amico and Alena Rumshiskaya and Ilya Rukavishnikov and Jan Sijbers and Valentin Sinitsyn and Inessa B. Kozlovskaya and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel and Paul H Van de Heyning and Steven S L Laureys and Floris L Wuyts} } @conference {Van_Ombergen2015-nk, title = {A first insight in regional brain changes after parabolic flight: a voxel-based morphometry study}, year = {2015}, pages = {1258}, author = {Angelique Van Ombergen and Ben Jeurissen and Vanhevel, Floris and Loeckx, Dirk and Dousset, Vincent and Paul M Parizel and Floris L Wuyts} }