Mindfulness Meditation and Spaceflight: A Potential Adjunct Therapy for Astronauts

Studies on space medicine indicate that stress can affect astronaut behaviours and their ability to perform their multiple tasks (Kanas and Manzey 2008; De La Torre et al. 2012). Astronauts face various stressors due to micro-gravity, living in small and enclosed confines, isolation, mix of arduous workload and boredom, disconnection from the natural world, unpredictable events, etc. Glucocorticoid secretion has a central role in inflammation and immunosuppression. Furthermore, supra-physical amounts of glucocorticoids hinder innate immunity (de Kloet 2004).

Mid to long term duration space missions expose astronauts to possible chronic stress with consequential GC dysregulation. While studies show that dendritic recovery is possible in the hippocampal and pre-frontal cortex, this is only achievable when chronic stress is reduced. Consequently, astronauts have an increased risk for