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Locomotor head-trunk coordination strategies following space flightDuring locomotion, angular head movements act in a compensatory fashion to oppose the vertical trunk translation that occurs during each step in the gait cycle. This coordinated strategy between head and trunk motion serves to aid gaze stabilization and perhaps simplifies the sensory coordinate transformation between the head and trunk, allowing efficient descending motor control during locomotion. Following space flight, astronauts often experience oscillopsia during locomotion in addition to postural and gait instabilities, suggesting a possible breakdown in head-trunk coordination. The goal of the present investigation was to determine if exposure to the microgravity environment of space flight induces alteration in head-trunk coordination during locomotion. Astronaut subjects were asked to walk (6.4 km/h, 20 s trials) on a motorized treadmill while visually fixating on a centrally located earthfixed target positioned either 2 m (FAR) or 30 cm (NEAR) from the eyes. In addition, some trials were also performed during periodic visual occlusion. Head and trunk kinematics during locomotion were determined with the aid of a video-based motion analyzing system. We report data collected preflight (10 days prior to launch) and postflight (2 to 4 hours after landing). The coherence between pitch head and vertical trunk movements during gaze fixation of both FAR and NEAR targets was significantly reduced following space flight indicating decreased coordination between the head and trunk during postflight locomotion. Astronauts flying on their first mission showed greater alterations in the frequency spectra of pitch head movements as compared to their more experienced counterparts. These modifications in the efficacy of head movement control may account for the reported disruption in gaze performance during locomotion and may contribute to postflight postural and gait dysfunction.
Document ID
20040173008
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bloomberg, J. J.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Peters, B. T.
Smith, S. L.
Huebner, W. P.
Reschke, M. F.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation
Volume: 7
Issue: 2-3
ISSN: 0957-4271
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Neuroscience
manned
short duration
NASA Center JSC
Flight Experiment
STS Shuttle Project

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