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Orientation illusions and heart-rate changes during short-radius centrifugationIntermittent short-radius centrifugation is a promising countermeasure against the adverse effects of prolonged weightlessness. To assess the feasibility of this countermeasure, we need to understand the disturbing sensory effects that accompany some movements carried out during rotation. We tested 20 subjects who executed yaw and pitch head movements while rotating at constant angular velocity. They were supine with their main body axis perpendicular to earth gravity. The head was placed at the centrifuge's axis of rotation. Head movements produced a transient elevation of heart-rate. All observers reported head-contingent sensations of body tilt although their bodies remained supine. Mostly, the subjective sensations conform to a model based on semicircular canal responses to angular acceleration. However, some surprising deviations from the model were found. Also, large inter-individual differences in direction, magnitude, and quality of the illusory body tilt were observed. The results have implications for subject screening and prediction of subjective tolerance for centrifugation.
Document ID
20040088462
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Hecht, H.
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge 02139, United States)
Kavelaars, J.
Cheung, C. C.
Young, L. R.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation
Volume: 11
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0957-4271
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Neuroscience
NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasures
Non-NASA Center

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