Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory study investigates changes in the autonomic cardiac system of young analog astronauts in a hostile, confined, and isolated environment. It uses linear and nonlinear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) during a Mars analog mission to assess how HRV varies under day and night stre...

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Main Authors: Acatzin Benítez-Salgado, Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo, Laura Mercedes Santiago-Fuentes, Luis Adrián Zúñiga-Avilés, Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro, Ana Karen Talavera-Peña, Lizeth Avila-Gutierrez, Jorge Rodríguez-Arce, José Javier Reyes-Lagos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Aerospace
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/10/833
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author Acatzin Benítez-Salgado
Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo
Laura Mercedes Santiago-Fuentes
Luis Adrián Zúñiga-Avilés
Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro
Ana Karen Talavera-Peña
Lizeth Avila-Gutierrez
Jorge Rodríguez-Arce
José Javier Reyes-Lagos
author_facet Acatzin Benítez-Salgado
Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo
Laura Mercedes Santiago-Fuentes
Luis Adrián Zúñiga-Avilés
Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro
Ana Karen Talavera-Peña
Lizeth Avila-Gutierrez
Jorge Rodríguez-Arce
José Javier Reyes-Lagos
author_sort Acatzin Benítez-Salgado
collection DOAJ
description This exploratory study investigates changes in the autonomic cardiac system of young analog astronauts in a hostile, confined, and isolated environment. It uses linear and nonlinear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) during a Mars analog mission to assess how HRV varies under day and night stressors. This study is guided by the hypothesis that significant HRV changes occur based on adaptation days, aiming to offer insights into autonomic nervous system (ANS) adaptation to environmental stressors. Over five days in August 2022, five analog astronauts faced adverse conditions in the Mojave Desert, simulating Martian conditions. Electrocardiograms were recorded daily for five minutes during morning and evening sessions to extract short-term RR time series. HRV parameters were analyzed using both time- and frequency-domain indices and nonlinear measures. Significant differences in HRV parameters across days highlight the mission environment’s impact on autonomic cardiac function. Morning measurements showed significant changes in average RR intervals and heart rate, indicating ANS adaptation. Nonlinear indices such as detrended fluctuation analysis and approximate entropy also showed significant differences, reflecting shifts in autonomic function. The Borg scale indicated reduced perceived exertion over time, aligning with HRV changes. Increased vagal activity during Mars analog adaptation under confinement/isolation may be crucial for cardiovascular adaptation and survival in future space flights.
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issn 2226-4310
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publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Aerospace
spelling doaj-art-3b8472fc782148ea8deb73559fa4f9b32025-08-20T02:11:01ZengMDPI AGAerospace2226-43102024-10-01111083310.3390/aerospace11100833Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory StudyAcatzin Benítez-Salgado0Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo1Laura Mercedes Santiago-Fuentes2Luis Adrián Zúñiga-Avilés3Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro4Ana Karen Talavera-Peña5Lizeth Avila-Gutierrez6Jorge Rodríguez-Arce7José Javier Reyes-Lagos8Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca 50180, Estado de México, MexicoDivisión de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Iztapalapa (UAM-I), Iztapalapa 09340, Ciudad de México, MexicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca 50180, Estado de México, MexicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca 50180, Estado de México, MexicoDivisión de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma (UAM-L), Lerma de Villada 52005, Estado de México, MexicoDivisión de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Lerma (UAM-L), Lerma de Villada 52005, Estado de México, MexicoDepartamento de Ingeniería Biomédica y Desarrollo Gerontecnológico, Instituto Nacional de Geriatría (INGER), La Magdalena Contreras 10200, Ciudad de México, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca 50110, Estado de México, MexicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca 50180, Estado de México, MexicoThis exploratory study investigates changes in the autonomic cardiac system of young analog astronauts in a hostile, confined, and isolated environment. It uses linear and nonlinear indices of heart rate variability (HRV) during a Mars analog mission to assess how HRV varies under day and night stressors. This study is guided by the hypothesis that significant HRV changes occur based on adaptation days, aiming to offer insights into autonomic nervous system (ANS) adaptation to environmental stressors. Over five days in August 2022, five analog astronauts faced adverse conditions in the Mojave Desert, simulating Martian conditions. Electrocardiograms were recorded daily for five minutes during morning and evening sessions to extract short-term RR time series. HRV parameters were analyzed using both time- and frequency-domain indices and nonlinear measures. Significant differences in HRV parameters across days highlight the mission environment’s impact on autonomic cardiac function. Morning measurements showed significant changes in average RR intervals and heart rate, indicating ANS adaptation. Nonlinear indices such as detrended fluctuation analysis and approximate entropy also showed significant differences, reflecting shifts in autonomic function. The Borg scale indicated reduced perceived exertion over time, aligning with HRV changes. Increased vagal activity during Mars analog adaptation under confinement/isolation may be crucial for cardiovascular adaptation and survival in future space flights.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/10/833HRVelectrocardiogramanalog missionmarsautonomic adaptation to space
spellingShingle Acatzin Benítez-Salgado
Miguel Ángel Peña-Castillo
Laura Mercedes Santiago-Fuentes
Luis Adrián Zúñiga-Avilés
Eric Alonso Abarca-Castro
Ana Karen Talavera-Peña
Lizeth Avila-Gutierrez
Jorge Rodríguez-Arce
José Javier Reyes-Lagos
Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
Aerospace
HRV
electrocardiogram
analog mission
mars
autonomic adaptation to space
title Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
title_full Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
title_fullStr Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
title_full_unstemmed Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
title_short Variations in Heart Rate Variability and Physiological Responses during Analog Space Missions: An Exploratory Study
title_sort variations in heart rate variability and physiological responses during analog space missions an exploratory study
topic HRV
electrocardiogram
analog mission
mars
autonomic adaptation to space
url https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/11/10/833
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