Researchers at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology have identified a chemical mechanism in primate brains that can modulate core body temperature. The finding points toward a potential method to induce a sleep-like state in humans during extended space missions, as reported in Innovation. The work adds a new dimension to how physiological states could be managed in environments far from Earth, where traditional rest periods are impractical or impossible to sustain for long durations. (Innovation)
As space exploration contemplates voyages that span long temporal scales, some proposals have considered generation ships, where multiple human generations live out their lives aboard a single vessel before reaching a distant destination. Another concept involves artificial sleep or torpor, a state of reduced metabolism and lowered physiological activity. This study contributes to the feasibility discussion by exploring how brain circuits might be engaged to achieve a controlled, reversible decrease in body temperature, a key component of such a sleep-like state. (Innovation)
In experiments with three young male cynomolgus monkeys, scientists examined the effects of activating specific brain receptors. By using a designer drug to trigger these receptors, the team observed a consistent drop in body temperature in the subjects. The approach centers on chemogenetic tools that render neurons responsive to otherwise inert compounds, enabling researchers to influence neural activity with precision. The results showed a reliable regulation of temperature that aligns with a broader goal of managing metabolic rate during protracted space travel. (Innovation)
The implications of this line of work extend beyond basic science. If translated to humans with careful safeguards, it could pave the way for a primate-compatible method to enter a controlled hibernation-like state. In such a state, body temperature would fall and metabolic processes would slow, potentially reducing the resources required for sustenance and life support on long-duration missions. The study marks an initial demonstration that permanent shifts in thermoregulation might be obtainable through targeted neural activation, a milestone in understanding how long-term physiological states could be modulated in primates. (Innovation)