新奇事件簿 航天飛行中宇航員大腦改變形狀

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Researchers from the University of Michigan in the USA have found that the brain of astronauts changes shape during spaceflight. It is the first study to look into how the brain changes on the journey into space. Researchers looked at pictures of the brains of 26 astronauts who spent time in space. The photos were taken by high-tech medical machines called MRIs. Twelve of the astronauts spent two weeks as Space Shuttle crew members, and 14 spent six months on the International Space Station. All of them experienced increases and decreases in the size of different parts of the brain. The researchers said that the longer an astronaut spent in space, the bigger the differences in size were.

美國密歇根大學(xué)的研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn)，在航天飛行的過程中，宇航員的大腦會改變形狀。這是觀察太空旅行大腦變化的首例研究。研究人員查看了經(jīng)歷太空飛行的26名宇航員的大腦照片。這些照片是由高科技醫(yī)療儀器MRI拍攝的。其中12名宇航員作為航天飛機機組人員在太空中度過了兩周，14名宇航員在國際空間站度過了六個月。所有宇航員大腦的不同部位都出現(xiàn)了增大或縮小。研究人員表示，宇航員在太空中的時間越長，體積的變化越大。

The research produced some interesting findings. The researchers explained that, "gravity is not available to pull fluids down in the body". This means there is a shift in the position of the brain inside the skull. The brain becomes either more squashed or bigger in size. The findings could help doctors in the future to treat problems that affect the brain's function. One possibility is to treat people who develop problems caused by long-term bed rest. Another possibility is to treat those who have a build-up of fluid in the brain, which can lead to brain damage. The researchers also say we will understand more about how neurons in the brain make connections. In addition, the findings will help future space travelers on their journey to Mars.

研究有一些有趣的發(fā)現(xiàn)。研究人員解釋說，“太空中沒有重力，不能讓體內(nèi)的液體向下流動”。這意味著顱骨內(nèi)大腦的位置會發(fā)生改變。大腦的體積會壓縮或增大。該發(fā)現(xiàn)未來可以幫助醫(yī)生治療影響大腦功能的一些疾病。一個可能性是治療長期臥床的病人的疾病。另外一個可能性是治療腦積水造成的腦損傷的病人。研究人員還表示，我們將能更好地理解大腦神經(jīng)元是如何聯(lián)系的。此外，這些發(fā)現(xiàn)還能幫助未來火星之旅的宇航員。