How do the conditions in a space habitat, especially the light, affect the human body? Students from the “Neuron” Neuroinformatics Research Club at our Faculty want to combine EEG with additional physiological data in their research.

Impact of light on the health and regeneration of astronauts

Light is widely known to have a significant impact on our well-being. However, the field of space research currently lacks precise guidelines and protocols defining the lighting parameters at different times of day inside habitats.

And yet, questions about human mental and physical condition during long-term isolation are central to planning future interplanetary missions, where isolation will be unavoidable.

Our Faculty's students will seek answers to these questions as part of their Aurora project, inspired, among others, by Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski who researched this issue in orbit as part of the EEG Neurofeedback project. He tested how this technology helps astronauts reduce stress and control emotions during prolonged isolation.

The Aurora Project is carried out by: Filip Puszko, Armin Ernst, Paweł Dzikiewicz, Izabela Paniczek, Alicja Huk, Milena Mirończuk, Patrycja Budzyń, Adam Łaput, Kacper Daniel and Michał Szandarowski.

– In our research, we aim to verify whether introducing a simulated daily cycle, for example, by using warmer, orange, or red light in the evening, will translate into improved sleep quality and more efficient crew recovery. The majority of previous studies on light impact have been short-term in nature and have not been conducted under full isolation conditions. Our research will run for a full two weeks – says Filip Puszko, the president of Neuron and the project leader.

LunAres – on-Earth test site for space missions

The tests will be carried out at the LunAres research centre in Piła. Established in 2017, the facility is dedicated to conducting scientific research and technological development related to long-duration space missions in conditions simulating a space habitat.

– The facility is located in a hangar on the premises of the former military airport and is fully isolated from the external environment. It does not have windows and access to natural light, and so it allows full control over the environment in which experiment participants perform their missions – explains Armin Ernst, leader of the research section of the Aurora project and employee of the LunAres centre. – Equipped with various habitat modules, the facility is connected to a hangar whose surface area is approximately 300 m², and which serves as a spacewalk simulator space. We are going to continue our measurements also during those spacewalks – adds Armin.

Advanced diagnostics and AI support

In the Aurora project, data from participants will be collected using various tools and methods, including electroencephalography (EEG) with dry electrode caps to record brain wave activity in real-time. Additionally, the participants will also have their physical parameters (heart rate, pulse, and skin conductance) measured, and will also fill out daily surveys and cognitive tests.

– The measurements are going to be taken twice a day: in the morning, just after waking up, and in the evening, before going to sleep. This frequency is dictated by the tight schedule of astronauts, whose day is filled with simulated tasks – explains Filip Puszko. – We will also analyse the cognitive states of people working in the EVA mission-control module. Because they remain still while working at a computer, EEG measurements should be more stable – he adds.

Given the large volume of data, the team plans to use artificial intelligence models in the analysis. They may help classify levels of fatigue and concentration by mapping brain activity onto specific mental and physical states.

Work on the models is already underway. They are trained on available datasets so that when the mission is complete, the team can process the results collected in the habitat. The team also plans to interpret their findings with the help of experts, including psychologists and psychiatrists.

Beginning in September

The first two-week mission is planned for September and will involve two participants – one from the Neuron Research Club and one from the ÆSIR association at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, our partner university in the Unite! alliance. The two teams have joined their efforts in competing for the prestigious grant under the Seed Fund, which may provide financial resources needed for further research.

– Thanks to these funds, we could run further mission cycles in November and December, which are of great importance, as they would allow the comparison of data from a larger number of participants and with a greater number of variable parameters – explains Armin Ernst.

Practical applications

The research results are intended to be published in a scientific article describing the impact of lighting on isolated groups of people. Although the project is set in space context, its results may have wide applications on Earth – including in the procedures applicable in shelters, at polar stations, or on submarines, where the lack of natural light poses a challenge to mental health and work efficiency.

Despite the fact that there are over three months left until the start of research missions, students can already boast their first success. The abstract of the Aurora project has been selected for presentation at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026.

– It is great news for us, as it is the most prestigious congress in the space industry worldwide, gathering representatives from science and business. Participation in it not only builds the reputation of our research club and university, but may also open doors to further project development – emphasizes Armin Ernst.