In recent years, there has been an increased focus on planning and preparing for extended missions in space. As humans explore further and fly longer in space, our understanding of the potential challenges to astronauts is a major area of research.
One of the scientists at the forefront of this research is a physician by the name of Dr. Joost Meerloo. Through his research studying the brains and performance of fighter pilots, Dr. Meerloo has helped develop our understanding of how to best prepare for space missions.
Fighter pilots have some of the highest rates of success in any field given the highly challenging and dangerous conditions they face. Over a period of time, they become accustomed to these extreme conditions, handling the physical and psychological stress with ease.
What sets fighter pilot brains apart from the rest of us? Dr. Meerloo found that fighter pilots had greater structural and functional differences in their brains compared to non-pilots. One such difference is a larger hippocampus, an area of the brain involved in processing episodic and spatial memories.
These results suggest that driller pilots have the capacity to benefit from repeated exposure to the same skills and to solidify knowledge in their brains over time. This indicates that astronaut preparing for a prolonged space mission could benefit from intensive training and repetition of key tasks in order to prepare their brains for the extended mission ahead.
In addition to helping develop understanding of the physical and psychological challenges astronauts must prepare for during space missions, Dr. Meerloo’s research can also help us better understand the types of jobs and skillsets that astronauts need for missions to be successful. Areas such as task focus, planning, problem-solving, and decision making must become second nature for a successful mission. Through the study of fighter pilots, we can gain insight into the neural and psychological requirements for mastering such skills.
Ultimately, Dr. Joost Meerloo’s research has helped us better understand the importance of training and repetition when preparing for extended missions in space, as well as how the brains of fighter pilots provide insight into the types of jobs and skillsets astronauts need. Armed with this knowledge, scientists will be better prepared to embark on long missions and explore the universe.
