Myndlift has been selected as one of the technologies to go into space in early 2022 on the Axiom-1 mission as part of the RAKIA program headed by the Ramon Foundation in conjunction with the Israel Space Agency in the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The mission, which will fly to the International Space Station (ISS), will be manned by four astronauts, including Israel’s Eytan Stibbe. One of the goals of the mission is to enable scientific discoveries and experiments to be carried out in the unique study environment of space. In this context, Myndlift has passed a rigorous review process and been selected for the opportunity to be utilized by Stibbe in space.

Care From Space

Myndlift is able to support neurofeedback training from space thanks to our remote-first approach to both training and equipment.

The Myndlift kit utilizes the Muse headset, a multi-sensor device that, paired with the Myndlift electrode, provides real-time feedback on an astronaut's brain activity.

How Myndlift Could Help Astronauts

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive methodology that measures brainwave activity and trains the brain using visual and auditory cues.

It's based on a learning method called operant conditioning, which involves rewards for adaptive behaviors. The goal of neurofeedback is to train the brain to regulate itself and help people understand when the brain is in the desired state. Eventually, the brain may be able to maintain a more balanced state even when it's not receiving feedback.

This form of therapy has consistently been shown to improve brain health in high-performers. An extensive review of EEG-neurofeedback studies for optimizing performance in healthy individuals found evidence of a link between neurofeedback success and gains in:

• Sustained attention (the ability to focus on an activity or stimulus over a long period).

• Executive function (a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behavior).

• Working memory (a cognitive system with a limited capacity that can hold information temporarily).

• Mental rotation (the ability to rotate mental representations of two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects).

• Motor procedural learning (a form of implicit memory, which refers to the ability to acquire motor or cognitive skills gradually through practice).

• Psychomotor skills (psychomotor skills represent those activities that are primarily movement-oriented).

• Fluid intelligence (the capacity to think quickly and reason flexibly to solve new problems without relying on past experience).

• Performance anxiety (concern about one's ability to perform a specific task).

Guiding Astronauts’ Brains Into a Healthier State

Even though astronauts are carefully selected and usually have a high-level degree or a job requiring advanced multitasking skills, their performance must be regularly monitored to safeguard and even enhance function in order to yield greater mission success.

Sustained attention and multitasking are critical, as even normal ISS operations require a human operator to monitor and respond to multiple events simultaneously over an extended period, raising the spectre of performance decline due to information overload and associated anxiety.

Fortunately, the human brain possesses the property of neuroplasticity and can adapt to bring itself into a more balanced, efficient state. Neuroplasticity is the capability of the brain to alter its structure or function in response to exposure to new stimuli or environments. EEG-based neurofeedback is a method that leverages neuroplasticity to "guide" the brain into a healthier state.

What Lies Ahead

By offering portable neurofeedback, Myndlift may help astronaut Stibbe function at his best during the Axiom-1 mission. And, if it proves feasible and effective on the ISS, it may be helpful for astronauts on longer, expeditionary missions – we’re looking at you, Mars!

Stay tuned for more updates as we head towards our Space Mission. If you want to know what all the fuss is about, sign up for Myndlift and start training for a better brain by getting matched with a Myndlift Provider, either by finding one in your area or by enrolling in our Total Remote program.