NASA HAS A REQUIREMENT FOR A NEURODIAGNOSTIC TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO MONITOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF THE…

Public award description

NASA HAS A REQUIREMENT FOR A NEURODIAGNOSTIC TOOL THAT CAN BE USED TO MONITOR THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OF THE CREW DURING LONG DURATION EXPLORATION MISSIONS. THE DEVICE SHOULD UNOBTRUSIVELY MONITOR AND DETECT NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF STRESS THAT COULD LEAD TO BEHAVIORAL OR PERFORMANCE DETERIORATION. THE NEURODIAGNOSTIC MONITOR SHOULD BE LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT AND SHOULD REQUIRE MINIMAL TIME OR EFFORT FOR THE CREW TO USE. AMONG THE VARIOUS NEURODIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES, ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY (EEG) AND FUNCTIONAL NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FNIRS) ARE MOST AMENABLE FOR INTEGRATION INTO A LIGHTWEIGHT, WEARABLE SYSTEM THAT CAN BE ADAPTED FOR USE IN SPACE. WE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A WEARABLE MULTI-MODALITY NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL DEVICE FOR MONITORING STRESS. THE WEARABLE MONITORING SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE A REAL-TIME FUNCTIONAL IMAGING OF CORTICAL ACTIVITY WHILE THE CREW PERFORMS EXPLORATION MISSION ACTIVITIES.