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Posture, locomotion, spatial orientation, and motion sickness as a function of space flightThis article summarizes a variety of newly published findings obtained by the Neuroscience Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, and attempts to place this work within a historical framework of previous results on posture, locomotion, motion sickness, and perceptual responses that have been observed in conjunction with space flight. In this context, we have taken the view that correct transduction and integration of signals from all sensory systems is essential to maintaining stable vision, postural and locomotor control, and eye-hand coordination as components of spatial orientation. The plasticity of the human central nervous system allows individuals to adapt to altered stimulus conditions encountered in a microgravity environment. However, until some level of adaptation is achieved, astronauts and cosmonauts often experience space motion sickness, disturbances in motion control and eye-hand coordination, unstable vision, and illusory motion of the self, the visual scene, or both. Many of the same types of disturbances encountered in space flight reappear immediately after crew members return to earth. The magnitude of these neurosensory, sensory-motor and perceptual disturbances, and the time needed to recover from them, tend to vary as a function of mission duration and the space travelers prior experience with the stimulus rearrangement of space flight. To adequately chart the development of neurosensory changes associated with space flight, we recommend development of enhanced eye movement systems and body position measurement. We also advocate the use of a human small radius centrifuge as both a research tool and as a means of providing on-orbit countermeasures that will lessen the impact of living for long periods of time with out exposure to altering gravito-inertial forces. Copyright 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
Document ID
20040142189
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Reschke, M. F.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston TX United States)
Bloomberg, J. J.
Harm, D. L.
Paloski, W. H.
Layne, C.
McDonald, V.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1998
Publication Information
Publication: Brain research. Brain research reviews
Volume: 28
Issue: 1-2
ISSN: 0165-0173
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Flight Experiment
NASA Center JSC
Review, Tutorial
short duration
Review
manned
STS Shuttle Project
NASA Discipline Neuroscience

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