Improving Psychological Resilience with Cognitive Retraining Methods Using EEG Brain Network Biomarkers: Example from UND/NASA Lunar/Martian Habitat

Abstract

The brain is the only organ that does not heal itself once injured, but it does adapt and relearn quickly once injured. Whether the brain is cognitively optimized or is dysfunctional, the same brain networks and brain systems are at play to optimize or regulate and repair. That is why studying brain function of optimized brains from astronaut candidates, or individuals within TBI and depression populations can help both ends of the cognitive spectrum to achieve repair for dysfunctional populations or maintain optimal performance. Opportunities to increase coping capabilities neurophysiologically that impact psychological resilience are appealing both clinically and when applied to space travel. The subject of this paper is reporting the results of one such method that is currently being employed in an ongoing UND/NASA Inflatable Lunar Mars Analog Habitat (ILMAH) simulator study. Our Habitat study’s primary goals are many fold: 1) to develop a predictive profile, based on real-time measurable neurophysiological metrics that model cognitive health and resulting task/behavioral health performance; 2) demonstrate the viability of developing a wearable dry sensor device that produces a profile that can be used in extreme environments such as long duration space missions; 3) demonstrate the viability to provide crew countermeasures that mediate negative reduced resilient stress effects on an on-going and as needed basis. Our study method employs the NeuroCoach® Training System that focuses on developing targeted resilient flexible adaptability neural circuit responses through the application of brain training exercises to support psychological resilience. The training program assumption is that if key neural circuits and network systems that support resilient, adaptive behaviors are coupled with proper problem-solving skills, resilient adaptive behaviors emerge. The NeuroCoach® program is based on modern Restorative Cognitive Rehabilitation Training Methods (rCRT). The program provides in-the-moment neural network performance metrics to monitor and adjust the training difficulty level using a Brain Computer Interface. Experimental and clinical results demonstrate the program success at increasing and maintaining optimal cognitive and brain performance quantitatively (by the numbers) and qualitatively (social reintegration). We have found that by studying astronaut crew needs to remain at optimized performance during long duration space travel as well as our studies with various clinical populations with acquired brain dysfunctions presents us with a unique opportunity to compare. They are opposite ends of the spectrum, but both are instructive in what a damaged brain can potentially achieve vs what an optimized brain might suffer during deep space travel.