When the brain goes haywire in space
Magdeburg-based neuroscientist Dr. Luisa Fricke receives Young Investigator Award for research on cognitive performance in microgravity
Reaction times slow down, decision-making becomes more difficult, and motor skills lose precision. Astronauts must make decisions in space—under conditions that can throw not only the body but also the brain off balance. The research of Dr. Luisa Fricke from the Institute of Medical Psychology at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg addresses precisely this issue. The neuroscientist is investigating how the mental performance of astronauts can be stabilized under conditions of weightlessness—and has now been awarded the Young Researcher Award from the Magdeburg Medical Faculty in the category of Basic Biomedical Research for this work. The prize is endowed with 7,500 euros.
“In her research, Dr. Luisa Fricke impressively combines basic neuroscientific research with technologically highly relevant and innovative questions. Such interdisciplinary approaches demonstrate how important the targeted promotion of young scientists is. We are very pleased that her work is being honored with the Young Researcher Award,” said Prof. Dr. Dr. Anne Albrecht, Vice Dean for Young Researchers and Equal Opportunity at the Magdeburg Medical Faculty.
Her research focuses on what is known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS). This involves stimulating the vagus nerve via gentle electrical impulses applied to the outer ear. The procedure is considered a promising approach for supporting attention, memory, and responsiveness—abilities that can be impaired during space missions.
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Photo: Neuroscientist Dr. Luisa Fricke (left) monitors transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in a study participant during a parabolic flight. The vagus nerve is stimulated via gentle electrical impulses applied to the outer ear. Photographer: private
“Studies show that weightlessness can have immediate effects on attention, decision-making, and fine motor processes. This can pose a safety risk, especially during long-duration missions,” explains Dr. Fricke. Together with her research team, she is therefore investigating whether vagus nerve stimulation can help maintain cognitive performance at a stable level even under extreme conditions.
To find this out, Dr. Fricke is leaving the traditional laboratory setting. Her experiments take place during scientific parabolic flights, during which weightlessness is repeatedly induced for about 20 seconds at a time. During these phases of weightlessness, test subjects complete reaction and memory tests while mobile EEG and ECG systems record their brain activity and cardiovascular functions—literally research under extreme conditions.
“I am particularly excited by the intersection of neuroscience, medicine, and space research,” says the young scientist. “The fact that our research has been honored with the Young Scientist Award is a great recognition and, at the same time, motivation to continue on this path.”
The project is being carried out at the Institute of Medical Psychology at Magdeburg University Hospital under the direction of Prof. Dr. Tino Zähle in collaboration with Dr. Christian Wienke. The research is supported by international collaborations as well as by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Space Agency at the DLR (German Aerospace Center).
For Dr. Fricke, interdisciplinary exchange is particularly crucial: “Magdeburg University Hospital offers an environment where clinical research, basic science, and innovative technologies work closely together. This creates space for new ideas—even where research is not limited by Earth.”
Luisa Fricke earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology at the Medical School Berlin, specializing in clinical psychology and neuropsychology. She then worked at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin before moving to Magdeburg University Hospital. There, she earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience and has been conducting research on neuromodulation at the Institute of Medical Psychology since 2021—during which time she has discovered a field that has completely captivated her. “I never would have thought I’d end up working in this field,” she says. “But right now, I can hardly imagine a more exciting area of research.”
Contact
Dr. Luisa Fricke, Institute of Medical Psychology at the University Medical Center Magdeburg of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Phone: +49 67 21818, Email: luisa.fricke@med.ovgu.de