Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31712: Can Space Cause Memory Loss? Students Investigate Brain Health on the ISS
- Agnirva.com
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Space travel isn’t just hard on the body—it might affect the brain too. Students from Valley Christian High School designed an experiment during Expeditions 43/44 and 45/46 to explore whether microgravity has an impact on memory-related processes.
This Memory Loss Experiment wasn’t about human testing—it used a biological model. The students selected C. elegans, a type of microscopic roundworm often used in neuroscience research. These worms are small, easy to grow, and have a well-mapped neural system.
The team engineered a test chamber that included memory challenge stimuli—like odor patterns and cues—that the worms had been trained to respond to on Earth. After being exposed to space conditions, the team checked whether the worms retained their memory patterns.
To measure this, astronauts used onboard equipment to record worm behavior under stimulus. Back on Earth, students compared these responses with control groups kept on the ground.
Results indicated that worms exposed to microgravity showed slight delays in behavioral responses, hinting at potential effects on neurological function. Although not conclusive, these results raised important questions about long-duration missions and astronaut cognitive health.
The project empowered students to explore neuroscience, biology, and the challenges of spaceflight. It also showed how young scientists can contribute meaningfully to understanding life beyond Earth.
Through hands-on experimentation, they learned how critical the brain is to mission success—and how important it is to protect it.
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