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The alteration of human sleep and circadian rhythms during spaceflight
Abstract
Numerous anecdotes in the past suggest the concept that sleep disturbances in astronauts occur more frequently during spaceflight than on ground. Such disturbances may be caused in part by exogenous factors, but also an altered physiological state under microgravity may add to reducing sleep quality in a spacecraft. The present investigation aims at a better understanding of possible sleep disturbances under microgravity. For the first time, experiments were conducted in which sleep and circadian regulation could be simultaneously assessed in space. Four astronauts took part in this study aboard the Russian MIR station. Sleep was recorded polygraphically on tape together with body temperature. For a comparison, the same parameters were measured during baseline periods preceding the flights. The circadian phase of body temperature was found to be delayed by about 2 h in space compared with baseline data. A free‐run was not observed during the first 30 d in space. Sleep was shorter and more disturbed than on earth. In addition, the structure of sleep was significantly altered. In space, the latency to the first REM episode was shorter, and slow‐wave sleep was redistributed from the first to the second sleep cycle. Several mechanisms may be responsible for these alterations in sleep regulation and circadian phase. Most likely, altered circadian zeitgebers on MIR and a deficiency in the process S of Borbély's sleep model cause the observed findings. The change in process S may be related to changes in physical activity as a result of weightlessness.
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“While previous research has noted increases in CBT during spaceflight15–17 and impaired thermoregulation during space analogs, i.e. head-down tilt bed rest18, these studies were limited to short missions and did not investigate the effect of acute physical exercise on CBT.”
From Increased core body temperature in astronauts during long-duration space missions (2017) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“Elevated CBT in space has been earlier observed by Gundel et al.16,17, using 24-hours CBT recordings, however to much lower extent (0.06–0.16 °C).”
From Increased core body temperature in astronauts during long-duration space missions (2017) · cites this paper as [17]
In the citing paper
“However, these studies were short-term missions, spanning a maximum of 8–16 days of spaceflight.”
From Increased core body temperature in astronauts during long-duration space missions (2017) · cites this paper as [17]
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Retracted
Metadata
- Authors
- GUNDEL, A., POLYAKOV, V. V., & ZULLEY, J.
- Affiliations
- Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (DE)
- Institute of Biomedical Problems (RU)
- University of Regensburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- GUNDEL, A.
- Venue
- Journal of Sleep Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1997-03
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-8
- ISSN
- 0962-1105 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2869
- OpenAlex
- W2052024305
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Sleep Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- sleep disorders, circadian rhythm, spaceflight, microgravity, astronauts, body temperature, REM latency, slow-wave sleep, sleep architecture, circadian phase delay, sleep-wake regulation, physical activity, Mir space station
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Humans, Middle Aged, Sleep Stages, Sleep, REM, Space Flight, Wakefulness
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