Cerebrovascular Response After Long Duration Spaceflight

We tackle our most unique topic yet-- long duration spaceflight! In the micro-gravity environment of spaceflight, fluid shifts from the feet to the head. Over time this fluid shift increases pressure in the brain, a particular concern for long duration spaceflight astronauts. Listen as Consulting Editor John Longhurst interviews senior author Richard Hughson (University of Waterloo) and leading expert Ronney Panerai (University of Leicester) about alterations in cerebrovascular function pre- and post- long duration spaceflight, including anecdotes about the challenges of experiments involving astronauts in both the U.S.A. and Russia.

Kathryn A. Zuj, Philippe Arbeille, J. Kevin Shoemaker, Andrew P. Blaber, Danielle K. Greaves, Da Xu, and Richard L. Hughson Impaired cerebrovascular autoregulation and reduced CO2 reactivity after long duration spaceflight Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published online April 6, 2012, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00029.2012.