Cerebral Hemodynamics

This project will consist of 3 ultrasound-based studies to investigate blood circulation in space. The first study involves holding the breath to assess the adaptation of bloodflow to the brain in space, by measuring how blood vessels respond to changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood. The second study will activate visual pathways in the brain by displaying checkerboard images on a computer screen and will measure changes in blood flow to the brain. The third study will assess the health and function of the endothelium, the inner layer of blood vessels. The results will help researchers understand more about cardiovascular adaptation to spaceflight, and could be useful for assessing cardiovascular conditions on Earth.