Neurocognitive assessment in microgravity: review of tools and benefits of increasing their clinical validity for long duration missions

INTRODUCTION

Clinical complications are not expected in current space missions; however, for future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, a new perspective may be needed - a more clinical approach. Different risks, both environmental, such as radiation, accidents, and biopsychological, including neurological problems, represent potential sources of subsequent neurocognitive deficits.

AIMS

This study aims to review research studies published to this date in microgravity conditions using existing spaceflight neurocognitive assessment batteries. This study also discusses the different risks of neuropsychological impairment in spaceflight and the potential benefits of increasing the clinical validity of these tools with neurological clinical samples on Earth for future long-duration missions.

METHOD

A PRISMA guidelines-based review of specialized literature on neurocognitive assessment batteries and human spaceflight was performed. Different factors including type of tool or battery used, sample size, mission duration, etc. were included in this review. After the scrutiny of 192 articles, a total of 27 studies were detailed in the review outcome.

RESULTS

Results showed that neuropsychological function research target has changed over the years, with working memory and perception studies being predominant in the 80s and 90s while reaction time being more frequent in recent research. We also found a lack of language-related research in microgravity and the predominance of two neurocognitive assessment batteries in microgravity research.

CONCLUSIONS

With this study, we want to emphasize the importance of increasing the clinical validity of neurocognitive or neuropsychological assessment tools to be used in space, especially in long-duration missions because in this type of mission the risk of suffering a brain injury or neurological condition increases due to multiple factors. Testing these tools with neurological clinical samples and using machine learning, predictive systems may help crews in early detection of potential clinical, neurological, or neurocognitive problems during these long-duration missions to Mars and beyond.

Evaluation of Several Computer Vision Feature Detectors/Extractors on Ahuna Mons Region in Ceres and Its Implications for Technosignatures Search

Ahuna Mons is a 4 km particular geologic feature on the surface of Ceres, of possibly cryovolcanic origin. The special characteristics of Ahuna Mons are also interesting in regard of its surrounding area, especially for the big crater beside it. This crater possesses similarities with Ahuna Mons including diameter, age, morphology, etc. Under the cognitive psychology perspective and using current computer vision models, we analyzed these two features on Ceres for comparison and pattern-recognition similarities. Speeded up robust features (SURF), oriented features from accelerated segment test (FAST), rotated binary robust independent elementary features (BRIEF), Canny edge detector, and scale invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithms were employed as feature-detection algorithms, avoiding human cognitive bias. The 3D analysis of images of both features’ (Ahuna Mons and Crater B) characteristics is discussed. Results showed positive results for these algorithms about the similarities of both features. Canny edge resulted as the most efficient algorithm. The 3D objects of Ahuna Mons and Crater B showed good-fitting results. Discussion is provided about the results of this computer-vision-techniques experiment for Ahuna Mons. Results showed the potential for the computer vision models in combination with 3D imaging to be free of bias and to detect potential geoengineered formations in the future. This study also brings forward the potential problem of both human and cognitive bias in artificial-intelligence-based models and the risks for the task of searching for technosignatures.

Neurocognitive Impairment in Severe Mental Illness. Comparative study with Spanish Speaking Patients

BACKGROUND

Serious mental illness (SMI) represents a category of psychiatric disorders characterized by specific difficulties of personal and social functioning, derived from suffering severe and persistent mental health problems.

AIMS

We wanted to look into differences in cognitive performance among different SMI patients.

METHODS

Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) screening was applied in one sample of SMI patients (n = 149) and another of healthy comparison participants (n = 35). Within the SMI sample, three different subsamples were formed: one with 97 patients with schizophrenia, a second with 29 patients with mood disorders, and a third with 23 patients with personality disorder. We performed a comparative study within and between groups.

RESULTS

Analysis of covariance was performed. Significant differences were found for cognitive functioning including attention and memory.

CONCLUSIONS

RBANS can be recommended for the detection of neurocognitive deficits in psychiatric disorders, especially in Schizophrenia.

Wireless Computer-Supported Cooperative Work: A Pilot Experiment on Art and Brain⁻Computer Interfaces

The present case study looked into the feasibility of using brain–computer interface (BCI) technology combined with computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) in a wireless network. We had two objectives; first, to test the wireless BCI-based configuration and the practical use of this idea we assessed workload perception in participants located several kilometers apart taking part in the same drawing task. Second, we studied the cortical activation patterns of participants performing the drawing task with and without the BCI technology. Results showed higher mental workload perception and broader cortical activation (frontal-temporal-occipital) under BCI experimental conditions. This idea shows a possible application of BCI research in the social field, where two or more users could engage in a computer networking task using BCI technology over the internet. New research avenues for CSCW are discussed and possibilities for future research are given.

Reaction Time and Attention: Toward a New Standard in the Assessment of ADHD? A Pilot Study

This pilot study shows results of an experiment comparing reaction times (RTs) and attentional performance between an ADHD group of 30 children and 30 controls, both Spanish speaking. The experiment was carried out using the Seville computerized neuropsychological battery (SNB).

OBJECTIVE

This study had two goals: One was to test sensitivity of SNB for attention deficits in ADHD and the second was to detect differences in RTs between ADHD and controls. Possible explanations and implications of such differences are also discussed.

METHOD

SNB computerized system was used to assess RTs and accuracy, and alternate forms of continuous performance task were used.

RESULTS

Results showed high sensitivity of some of the SNB tests, especially cancellation tests. RTs were significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSION

SNB represents a helpful tool for detection of attention deficits, and RT indices represent the most significant variable in differentiation of both groups studied.

Screening of Cognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia: Reliability, Sensitivity, and Specificity of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in a Spanish Sample

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a number of studies focusing on the evaluation of neuropsychological deficits in individuals with schizophrenia have shown deficits that include several cognitive functions. Attention deficits as well as memory or executive function deficits are common in this kind of disorder together with sustained attention problems, working memory deficiencies, and problem-solving difficulties, among many others. Currently, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is gaining special importance in the evaluation of the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.

METHOD

In this article, we describe an RBANS screening in a sample of 88 Spanish patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. We also aimed to check the battery's reliability, sensitivity, and specificity in the studied sample. We performed a comparative study with 88 healthy participants.

RESULTS

The results showed a reliability index value of α = .795 and an item value of α = .762. For total test reliability, we obtained an index value of α = .761 and an item value of α = .762. Sensitivity score was 87.5% and specificity 86.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

RBANS obtained good reliability, sensitivity, and specificity scores and represents a good screening tool in detecting cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.

Norms and reliability for the Spanish version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Form A

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the adult population. Tools capable of detecting predementia and established diagnoses of dementia are very important for assessing these patients. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) is a brief neuropsychological battery that has been successful at detecting cognitive impairment in degenerative and nondegenerative neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to test reliability and sensibility and obtain normative data of a Spanish adaptation of the RBANS. In this study, 50 participants with AD and 336 healthy participants stratified according to the Spanish Census, with different levels of education, were tested with the RBANS (Form A). Descriptive analyses were performed on a pilot sample from the general population, and comparative analyses were performed on data from the two samples. We obtained an overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of .92. RBANS showed strong specificity and moderately low sensitivity. Participants in the AD group performed significantly worse on most subtests than control participants. Implications with regard to the specificity and sensitivity of the Spanish version of the RBANS are discussed.