Sensory-Based Alterations and Countermeasures in Spaceflight and Spaceflight Analogs

INTRODUCTION: Long-duration spaceflight and isolated, confined, and extreme environments present various challenges to crewmembers. One less-frequently discussed challenge is altered sensory inputs and how they can adversely affect cognition and performance. Maintaining psychological and performance outcomes is crucial for mission success, and simple sensory-based countermeasures (CMs) can be surprisingly effective. This scoping review examines the impact of altered sensory inputs in these extreme environments, assesses current sensory-based CMs, and compares their effectiveness across sensory modalities to guide future strategies.

METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through comprehensive searches of PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, Science Direct, ProQuest, and the NASA Technical Reports Server. Searches included keywords related to the sensory modalities under investigation and potential outcomes. This review focused on English-language publications, with no date restrictions for sensory alterations and a focus on studies published after 2019 for countermeasure research.

RESULTS: Spaceflight leads to sensory changes that affect health and performance. These alterations are highlighted, finding particularly prominent changes in lighting and auditory modalities. These changes result from altered sensory inputs and environmentally driven physiological alterations. Sensory input modulation can influence cognitive and psychological states, affecting performance. Sensory-based CMs were examined for their impact on psychological and performance domains. A total of 285 articles on sensory alterations and 180 on CMs were reviewed, with 52 and 59 articles included, respectively.

DISCUSSION: Sensory-based CMs offer promising approaches to maintain or improve performance. Modulating sensory inputs can mitigate spaceflight-related challenges. Personalized, multisensory approaches appear particularly promising. The review highlights research gaps and suggests avenues for enhancing sensory CMs.

White BM, Stankovic A, Thoolen S, Kosmyna N, Ivkovic V, Strangman G. Sensory-based alterations and countermeasures in spaceflight and spaceflight analogs. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(7):556–568.