Hi everyone,
Thank you to the @BrainAWG for having me present today at the meeting. Grateful for the warm reception, questions, and feedback from Windy, Nilufar, Ryan, and Amanda.
What I presented: The VEN Fatigue Hypothesis, Von Economo Neuron circuit degradation as a mechanism for the non-monotonic cognitive trajectory in long-duration spaceflight (early ERT improvement, late collapse at 340 days). Seven lines of convergent evidence across five independent datasets.
My two preprints:
Fast Lane Hypothesis (original SNN model, speed-accuracy tradeoff, FTD and autism): arXiv:2604.09229
VENCircuit (SNN training reliability, VENs as acquisition scaffolds, FTD and autism predictions): arXiv:2605.17399
Spaceflight paper (what I presented today, with Windy and Nilufar): preprint in preparation
Analysis code: github.com/esila-keskin/ven-spaceflight-cognition
Next steps from today’s discussion:
- GSEA using Stat column from DGE tables (thank you Amanda)
- Expanding longitudinal cognitive dataset
- Extended SOMA atlas queries
Still looking for:
- Longitudinal ERT or cognitive battery data beyond the Twins Study
- DTI or fractional anisotropy data for ACC white matter in long-duration astronauts
Happy to collaborate. Feel free to reach out: esilakeskin06@gmail.com
Esila Keskin