Abstract:
This article aims to assess the impact of radiation and weightlessness on the brain, specifically through the analysis of bioelectrical signals. Our goal is to elucidate the patterns and mechanisms underlying the effects of radiation, weightlessness, and their combined influence on Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. This understanding will serve as a crucial reference for risk assessment and protective technology research in space environments. A comprehensive study was conducted utilizing SD rats as the experimental subjects. The eight different experimental groups were established to analyze EEG signals and automatically detect abnormal brain signals caused by radiation or weightlessness exposure.To delve deeper into the underlying biological mechanisms, the expression levels of Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) were examined in specific brain regions, such as the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and hippocampus. The study found that rats exposed to radiation alone or in combination with weightlessness showed a marked slow-wave EEG pattern, with the combined effect being more significant, indicating an enhanced effect. The neural network model accurately distinguished normal from abnormal EEG signals. The decrease of MBP and increase of GFAP and IBA1 were observed in the combined radiation-weightlessness groups, suggesting myelin damage and activation of astrocytes and microglias. The study reveals the effects of radiation and weightlessness on brain signals, showing that radiation alone induces slow-wave EEG patterns, and the combination with weightlessness exacerbates these patterns. The mechanism involves myelin sheath damage and glial cell activation. This understanding is crucial for assessing risks and developing protective measures in space, laying the groundwork for future research to improve astronaut safety and well-being.