Electroretinographic Studies of the Crew of the Eight-Month International Experiment SIRIUS 20/21

A set of electrophysiological studies of the visual system was run before and after the eight-month SIRIUS 20/21 international experiment, with recording of standard photopic electroretinograms (ERG), fl icker ERG for flickering at frequencies of 8.3, 10, 12, and 24 Hz, photopic negative response, and pattern ERG. The aim of the study was to obtain objective assessments of changes in the functional activity of retinal neurons in ground station crew members associated with long-term isolation and the influence of a set of stress factors. Moderate activation of the bioelectrical activity of photoreceptors and bipolar cells was fund, along with a slight decrease in the functioning of retinal ganglion cells after release from isolation. These changes may reflect adaptation of the visual sensory system of the test subjects to physical and psychoemotional stress in the experimental conditions. Further studies of the specific characteristics of changes in electroretinographic markers with increasing duration of the period of isolation are required to expand our understanding of visual system stress resistance and adaptation during long-term exposure of people to extreme environmental conditions.