There’s been a lot of excitement following the recent successful launch of SpaceX’s most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy. It’s got me thinking that I might be in the wrong field. Neuroscience has been very good to me, but the title “Astrodog” has a great ring to it—and I know the ladies love a pooch in uniform. However, I find the thought of space travel both exciting and terrifying. Sure, the idea of exploring our universe is thrilling; but, the nervous system encounters many challenges in this environment and the long-term health effects of prolonged space travel are not yet fully understood.

The nervous system has an incredible ability to adapt to changes in the environment. One of the biggest challenges experienced in space are the effects of microgravity. Researchers have found that the brain adapts to gravitational changes by changing shape. Brain imaging scans (MRI) of astronauts from before and after space travel showed that the volume of grey matter in the brain increases in some regions and decreases in others. Grey matter is a tissue that contains most of the cell bodies of specialized cells, called neurons, that process information in the brain.

Astronauts who spend more time in space show greater changes in the brain. Specifically, research shows increased gray matter in the parts of the brain that control leg movement. This may result from the brain adapting to moving the limbs in low gravity. The astronauts may have difficulty moving in this new environment at first because the forces acting on the body have changed. Over time, the brain learns and adapts to these changes and the astronauts are better able to move their bodies in space.

Changes in gravity also affect the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain. In space, gravity is too low to help pull the fluid down towards the body. Instead, it’s shifted up towards the head. The additional fluid in the skull increases pressure on the brain and decreases the space between different brain regions. This can also shift the brain upwards in the skull and compress it. It’s not known if these effects will continue to worsen with prolonged space travel or if the structural changes are permanent.

I think for now I’ll stick to what I know best and leave the space travel up to the professionals. Besides, Astrodog Academy certainly isn’t cheap, and I’ll need to tell my human to start saving—I wonder if she can get a student discount?