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Understanding How Astronauts Adapt to Space and to Earth: Anatomical Studies of Central Vestibular AdaptationSignificant changes take place in the nervous systems of astronauts during and following exposure to microgravity. These changes, particularly in the part of the brain that controls balance, the vestibular system, can cause sensations of rotation, dizziness, and vertigo, as well as space adaptation syndrome. Adaptation to the microgravity environment usually occurs within one week, and a subsequent re-adaptation period of several days is often required upon return to Earth. In order to realize long-term spaceflight, effective countermeasures for these symptoms must be developed. The structural changes that take place in one of the vestibular regions of the brain (the cerebellar cortex) during the process of adaptation to Earth's gravity remain unclear and are the subject of an experiment being conducted on STS-107 by Dr. Gay Holstein of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Using the rat as a model, Dr. Holstein and her team will seek to identify the cellular changes underlying the vestibular changes experienced by astronauts.
Document ID
20030011386
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Holstein, Gay
(Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York, NY United States)
Vasques, Marilyn
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Aquilina, Rudy
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
December 16, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: STS 107 Shuttle Press Kit: Providing 24/7 Space Science Research
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
NASA/JSC-2002-057c
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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