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Space flight and changes in spatial orientationFrom a sensory point of view, space flight represents a form of stimulus rearrangement requiring modification of established terrestrial response patterns through central reinterpretation. Evidence of sensory reinterpretation is manifested as postflight modifications of eye/head coordination, locomotor patterns, postural control strategies, and illusory perceptions of self or surround motion in conjunction with head movements. Under normal preflight conditions, the head is stabilized during locomotion, but immediately postflight reduced head stability, coupled with inappropriate eye/head coordination, results in modifications of gait. Postflight postural control exhibits increased dependence on vision which compensates for inappropriate interpretation of otolith and proprioceptive inputs. Eye movements compensatory for perceived self motion, rather than actual head movements have been observed postflight. Overall, the in-flight adaptive modification of head stabilization strategies, changes in head/eye coordination, illusionary motion, and postural control are maladaptive for a return to the terrestrial environment. Appropriate countermeasures for long-duration flights will rely on preflight adaptation and in-flight training.
Document ID
19920074651
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Reschke, Millard F.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Bloomberg, Jacob J.
(NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Harm, Deborah L.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Paloski, William H.
(Krug Life Sciences, Inc. Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1992
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Report/Patent Number
IAF PAPER 92-0888
Accession Number
92A57275
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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