Multi-domain cognitive assessment of male mice shows space radiation is not harmful to high-level cognition and actually improves pattern separation.

摘要: Astronauts on interplanetary missions - such as to Mars will be exposed space radiation, a spectrum of highly-charged, fast-moving particles that includes 56Fe and 28Si. Earth-based preclinical studies show radiation decreases rodent performance in low- some high-level cognitive tasks. Given astronaut use touchscreen platforms during training flight given the ability tasks assess functional integrity brain circuits multiple domains non-aversive way, here we 6-month-old C57BL/6J male mice whole-body subsequently assessed them battery. Relative Sham treatment, irradiation did not overtly change visual discrimination, reversal learning, rule-based, or object-spatial paired associates suggesting preserved supporting circuits. Surprisingly, improved dentate gyrus-reliant pattern separation task; irradiated learned faster were more accurate than controls. Improved separation performance did not appear be touchscreen-, particle-, neurogenesis-dependent, 28Si led context discrimination non-touchscreen task decreased new gyrus neurons relative Sham. These data urge revisitation broadly-held view is detrimental cognition.