Concentration and reaction speed in weightlessness

Concentration and reaction speed in weightlessness
Concentration and reaction speed in weightlessness
Weightlessness can immediately impair attention, memory and reaction times, increasing the risk of serious errors. Experiments on Earth have shown that mental performance improves when the vagus nerve is stimulated by weak electrical impulses. In the University of Magdeburg's experiment, some participants receive genuine stimulation of the vagus nerve, while others receive a placebo stimulation. The participants' cognitive and psychomotor performance is then recorded before, during and after the flight. The experiment is part of the German Space Agency at DLR's 46th parabolic flight campaign, taking place from 11 to 22 May 2026.