Shubhanshu Shukla, India&rsquo;s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is spearheading a cutting-edge experiment to develop a brain-computer interface (BCI) in space, NASA announced Thursday.
As part of the Axiom Space Mission-4 (Ax-4), Shukla, along with Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, is working in the Columbus laboratory module using near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to record brain activity in microgravity.
The experiment, titled &ldquo;Thoughts over Gravity&rdquo; (PhotonGrav), aims to explore how astronauts can directly interface with computers using brain signals&mdash;a technology with potential implications for future space missions and assistive technologies.
During the study, Uznański-Wiśniewski wore a special cap transmitting brain activity to a laptop, while Shukla optimised signal strength and calibrated the equipment.
Shukla has also been engaged in other scientific experiments aboard the ISS&mdash;studying tardigrades to examine their survival in extreme environments, analysing muscle cell stem cultures to understand muscle repair in space, and even filming a video on how digestion adapts in microgravity.
Born in Lucknow, Shukla is on a 14-day mission along with astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary. The Ax-4 crew is conducting 60 experiments representing 31 countries, with India contributing seven ISRO-led studies.
He is also expected to interact with students and ISRO scientists via ham radio on Friday evening.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

Shubhanshu Shukla To Develop Brain-Computer Interface in Space

India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS leads futuristic neuro-tech experiment as part of Axiom-4 mission

Shubhanshu Shukla To Develop Brain-Computer Interface in Space

India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS leads futuristic neuro-tech experiment as part of Axiom-4 mission

July 3, 2025 | 20:26 IST