Houston, we have a podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center. This is episode 427.

ISS results, wayfinding. I'm Leah Cheshire and I'll be your host today. On this podcast, we bring in the experts,

scientists, engineers, and astronauts all to let you know what's going on in the world of human spaceflight

and more. Wayfinding is an

intriguing human research investigation aboard the International Space Station. It explores how

astronauts form mental maps, how their brains process spatial information in microgravity,

and how living off the earth changes the very structure of critical brain regions tied to navigation,

memory, and orientation. These findings don't just help us prepare for long-duration missions.

They tell us something profound about how the human brain adapts in extreme environments.

Behind the scenes, teams across NASA and our international partners have been working for years to make this

research possible. From designing cognitive assessments and MRI protocols, to coordinating astronaut

schedules, to developing tools that help us understand how spaceflight reshapes the brain.

It's a massive effort spanning multiple centers, disciplines, and expertise, all working toward one goal,

understanding how humans thrive beyond Earth. On this episode, we have Dr. Giuseppe Iari,

professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Calgary and principal investigator of

the wave-finding experiment to be our guide as we explore what wayfinding is teaching us,

why it matters, and how it helps chart the course for future emissions deeper into the solar system.

Let's get started.

T-minus-5 seconds, county. second, Penn County.

Mark, mission starts, B zero, a long, submit lights are right on.

Here we have a podcast.

Well, Dr. Giuseppe Aardia, thank you so much for joining us today on Houston.

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