Exploring Mental Health and Human Performance at the Aerospace Medicine Conference 2024

SCI-DI presented at the 94th annual Aerospace Medical Assoiation Conference in Chicago May 8 2024

We were excited for our "Psychonautics" #education session at the 94th Aerospace Medical Association (#AsMA) Meeting in Chicago. We discussed evidence and issues related to rapidly emerging methods and approaches for harnessing neuroplasticity in human performance optimization and mental health for #aviation and #space #medicine. We dove into the emerging and future integration of noninvasive #neuromodulation methods like auricular #vagus nerve stimulation (aVNS), immersive technodelic experiences with light and sound, and #psychedelic therapies for enhancing mental health and #cognitive performance in aerospace applications.

Brian Schiefer discussed #technodelics - a blend of immersive sensory stimulation methods to alter states of #consciousness showing promise for treating behavioral health issues, as well as for enhancing mood and cognitive functions. Such #engineering advancements may serve as adjunct or drugless, alternative therapies for pilots and others in safety-critical roles.

Dr. Cheryl Lowry discussed our abstract on psychedelic medications like #psilocybin that are being rigorously studied for their benefits to #mentalhealth (#PTSD, #suicide ideation, #addiction, major #depression, and #anxiety), with potential to enhance cognitive and physical #performance at low doses. This is of particular relevance to aircrew and #military personnel, and extensive research is crucial to safely and ethically incorporate these substances into aerospace medicine.

In the session, Dr. Jamie Tyler also discussed #neurotechnology and the role of aVNS in addressing challenges within aviation and aerospace medicine, such as combating #insomnia and fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Through its safe and established effects on #brain activity, aVNS can also enhance #cognition, #learning and #training outcomes, enhance aviator alertness, and to support other aspects of operational readiness. State-of-the-art aVNS devices developed specifically for #aerospace medicine and operations like BRAIN Buds will be discussed.

Additionally, Dr. Brian Pinkston discussed the historical context and resurgence of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), emphasizing its growing legitimacy in treating mental health conditions. Dr. Matthew Macaluso, D.O. discussed the use of #ketamine and esketamine (Spravato) for treatment-refractory depression (TRD), with the latter being notable as a #FDA approved, rapidly acting antidepressant.

Our session emphasized the urgent need for aerospace medicine practitioners to be well-informed about these emerging treatments. With a focus on mental #health morbidity, risk mitigation, and mortality reduction, it is critical to conduct thorough #research to balance the promise of these novel therapies against the imperative of maintaining #safety.

SCI-DI group out to dinner in Chicago

Meeting Website https://www.asma.org/home