Review of NASA's Biomedical Research Program (2000) / Chapter Skim
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2 Sensorimotor Integration
2 Sensorimotor Integration
Pages 11-18
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From page 11... ...
Early in-flight performance for many astronauts is often marked by space motion sickness, particularly for astronauts with no previous spaceflight experience. In long-duration flights, space motion sickness can also be triggered by illusions of visual reorientation that occur when astronauts misperceive their orientation with respect to the environment.
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From page 12... ...
These are focused on adaptation of vestibular reflexes to different gravitoinertial force conditions; spatial orientation and mobility, in particular visually induced tilt and reorientation illusions; and eye, head, and body movements during locomotion and their stability in a range of environments. A fourth project on neurovestibular adaptation 1Recently retitled the Fundamental Biology Research Program (FBRP)
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From page 13... ...
of the projects in the BR&C program are focused on postural control and motor adaptation to variations in gravitational force level, one of the issues identified in the Strategy report. The other two recommendations made in the Strategy report for future studies of posture and locomotion concern the development of ancillary sensory aids to facilitate postural and locomotory control and to assist in adaptation during transitions between gravitational force environments, and the development of animal models of reentry disturbances.
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From page 14... ...
Consistent with the recommendations made in the Strategy report, research in the Biomedical Research and Countermeasures program is focused heavily on human studies, both flight and ground based, of postural stability, the vestibulo-ocular reflex and oculomotor control, and visuospatial orientation and adaptation. Studies of vestibular signal processing and development constitute about one-third of the total number of research projects included in sensorimotor integration research and are performed on a wide range of animal models.
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From page 15... ...
Utilization and Validation of Animal Models Excluding the Neurolab projects, animal research receives less than 25 percent of the funds allocated for studies on sensorimotor integration and thus constitutes a relatively small but significant part of NASA's biomedical research program. The research projects involving experimental animals are predominantly ground based and are performed mainly in university laboratories.
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From page 16... ...
There is evidence that previous spaceflight experience or repeated exposure to altered gravitational environments reduces the frequency of space motion sickness, spatial orientation problems, and disequilibrium. However, it is unknown whether this is accomplished in increments or whether steady state is achieved after a certain number of exposures.
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From page 17... ...
~ there Is evidence that previous spaceflight experience or repeated exposure to altered gravitational environments reduces the frequency of space motion sickness, spatial orientation problems, and disequilibrium. However, it is unclear what specific pharmacological countermeasures or aspects of training promote adaptation to or compensation for altered gravitational environments.
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From page 18... ...
However, as recommended in the Strategy report, studies are needed to determine the effects of microgravity on human sensory and motor cortical maps using fMRI, and how microgravity may affect CNS reorganization in general and sensorimotor and cognitive functions in particular. At present, animal studies are supported by NASA to characterize certain basic functions of the peripheral vestibular system in university-based laboratories.
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