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Moudy SC, Peters BT, Clark TK, Schubert MC, Wood SJ. Development of a ground-based sensorimotor disorientation analog to replicate astronaut postflight experience. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1369788. [PMID: 38699143 PMCID: PMC11063268 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1369788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The perceptual and motor coordination problems experienced following return from spaceflight reflect the sensory adaptation to altered gravity. The purpose of this study was to develop a ground-based analog that replicates similar sensorimotor impairment using a standard measures test battery and subjective feedback from experienced crewmembers. This Sensorimotor Disorientation Analog (SDA) included varying levels of sensorimotor disorientation through combined vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive disruptions. The SDA was evaluated on five previously flown astronauts to compare with their postflight experience and functional motor performance immediately (Return (R)+0 days) and +24 h (R+1) after landing. The SDA consisted of galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), visual disruption goggles, and a weighted suit to alter proprioceptive feedback and replicate perceived heaviness postflight. Astronauts reported that GVS alone replicated ∼50-90% of their postflight performance with the weighted suit fine-tuning the experience to replicate an additional 10%-40% of their experience. Astronauts did not report feeling that the disruption goggles represented either the visual disruptions or illusory sensations that they experienced, nor did they impact motor performance in postflight tasks similarly. Based on these results, we recommend an SDA including the GVS and the weighted suit. These results provide a more realistic and portable SDA framework to provide transient spaceflight-relevant sensorimotor disruptions for use in countermeasure testing and as a pre-flight training tool.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Torin K. Clark
- Bioastronautics Laboratory, Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Michael C. Schubert
- Laboratory of Vestibular NeuroAdaptation, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Scott J. Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
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2
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Clément G, Kuldavletova O, Macaulay TR, Wood SJ, Navarro Morales DC, Toupet M, Hautefort C, Van Nechel C, Quarck G, Denise P. Cognitive and balance functions of astronauts after spaceflight are comparable to those of individuals with bilateral vestibulopathy. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1284029. [PMID: 37965165 PMCID: PMC10641777 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1284029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study compares the balance control and cognitive responses of subjects with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) to those of astronauts immediately after they return from long-duration spaceflight on board the International Space Station. Methods Twenty-eight astronauts and thirty subjects with BVP performed five tests using the same procedures: sit-to-stand, walk-and-turn, tandem walk, duration judgment, and reaction time. Results Compared to the astronauts' preflight responses, the BVP subjects' responses were impaired in all five tests. However, the BVP subjects' performance during the walk-and-turn and the tandem walk tests were comparable to the astronauts' performance on the day they returned from space. Moreover, the BVP subjects' time perception and reaction time were comparable to those of the astronauts during spaceflight. The BVP subjects performed the sit-to-stand test at a level that fell between the astronauts' performance on the day of landing and 1 day later. Discussion These results indicate that the alterations in dynamic balance control, time perception, and reaction time that astronauts experience after spaceflight are likely driven by central vestibular adaptations. Vestibular and somatosensory training in orbit and vestibular rehabilitation after spaceflight could be effective countermeasures for mitigating these post-flight performance decrements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Clément
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
- KBR, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Olga Kuldavletova
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | | | - Scott J Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Deborah C Navarro Morales
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | - Michel Toupet
- Centre d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Oto-Neurologiques, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Hautefort
- Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1141, Paris, France
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France
| | | | - Gaëlle Quarck
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
| | - Pierre Denise
- Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France
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3
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Stahn AC, Bucher D, Zu Eulenburg P, Denise P, Smith N, Pagnini F, White O. Paving the way to better understand the effects of prolonged spaceflight on operational performance and its neural bases. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:59. [PMID: 37524737 PMCID: PMC10390562 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00295-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Space exploration objectives will soon move from low Earth orbit to distant destinations like Moon and Mars. The present work provides an up-to-date roadmap that identifies critical research gaps related to human behavior and performance in altered gravity and space. The roadmap summarizes (1) key neurobehavioral challenges associated with spaceflight, (2) the need to consider sex as a biological variable, (3) the use of integrative omics technologies to elucidate mechanisms underlying changes in the brain and behavior, and (4) the importance of understanding the neural representation of gravity throughout the brain and its multisensory processing. We then highlight the need for a variety of target-specific countermeasures, and a personalized administration schedule as two critical strategies for mitigating potentially adverse effects of spaceflight on the central nervous system and performance. We conclude with a summary of key priorities for the roadmaps of current and future space programs and stress the importance of new collaborative strategies across agencies and researchers for fostering an integrative cross- and transdisciplinary approach from cells, molecules to neural circuits and cognitive performance. Finally, we highlight that space research in neurocognitive science goes beyond monitoring and mitigating risks in astronauts but could also have significant benefits for the population on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Stahn
- Unit of Experimental Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Berlin, Germany.
| | - D Bucher
- IZN-Neurobiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P Zu Eulenburg
- Institute for Neuroradiology & German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - P Denise
- Normandie Univ. UNICAEN, INSERM, COMETE, CYCERON, Caen, France
| | - N Smith
- Protective Security and Resilience Centre, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - F Pagnini
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy
| | - O White
- Université de Bourgogne INSERM-U1093 Cognition, Action, and Sensorimotor Plasticity, Dijon, France.
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4
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Marciniak Dg Agra K, Dg Agra P. F = ma. Is the macaque brain Newtonian? Cogn Neuropsychol 2023; 39:376-408. [PMID: 37045793 DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2023.2191843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Intuitive Physics, the ability to anticipate how the physical events involving mass objects unfold in time and space, is a central component of intelligent systems. Intuitive physics is a promising tool for gaining insight into mechanisms that generalize across species because both humans and non-human primates are subject to the same physical constraints when engaging with the environment. Physical reasoning abilities are widely present within the animal kingdom, but monkeys, with acute 3D vision and a high level of dexterity, appreciate and manipulate the physical world in much the same way humans do.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Marciniak Dg Agra
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Neural Circuits, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Brain, Minds and Machines, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pedro Dg Agra
- The Rockefeller University, Laboratory of Neural Circuits, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Brain, Minds and Machines, Cambridge, MA, USA
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5
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Le Roy B, Martin-Krumm C, Pinol N, Dutheil F, Trousselard M. Human challenges to adaptation to extreme professional environments: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105054. [PMID: 36682426 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
NASA is planning human exploration of the Moon, while preparations are underway for human missions to Mars, and deeper into the solar system. These missions will expose space travelers to unusual conditions, which they will have to adapt to. Similar conditions are found in several analogous environments on Earth, and studies can provide an initial understanding of the challenges for human adaptation. Such environments can be marked by an extreme climate, danger, limited facilities and supplies, isolation from loved ones, or mandatory interaction with others. They are rarely encountered by most human beings, and mainly concern certain professions in limited missions. This systematic review focuses on professional extreme environments and captures data from papers published since 2005. Our findings provide an insight into their physiological, biological, cognitive, and behavioral impacts for better understand how humans adapt or not to them. This study provides a framework for studying adaptation, which is particularly important in light of upcoming longer space expeditions to more distant destinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Le Roy
- Stress Neurophysiology Unit, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France; CNES, Paris, France; APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360 Metz Cedex, France.
| | - Charles Martin-Krumm
- Stress Neurophysiology Unit, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France; APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360 Metz Cedex, France; École de Psychologues Praticiens, Catholic Institute of Paris, EA Religion, Culture et société, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Pinol
- Université Clermont Auvergne, Health Library, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, WittyFit, F 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, 34 Avenue Carnot, 63 037 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marion Trousselard
- Stress Neurophysiology Unit, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny-sur-Orge Cedex, France; APEMAC/EPSAM, EA 4360 Metz Cedex, France; French Military Health Service Academy, Paris, France
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6
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Dubayle D, Vanden-Bossche A, Peixoto T, Morel JL. Hypergravity Increases Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability to Fluorescent Dextran and Antisense Oligonucleotide in Mice. Cells 2023; 12:cells12050734. [PMID: 36899870 PMCID: PMC10000817 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The earliest effect of spaceflight is an alteration in vestibular function due to microgravity. Hypergravity exposure induced by centrifugation is also able to provoke motion sickness. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the crucial interface between the vascular system and the brain to ensure efficient neuronal activity. We developed experimental protocols of hypergravity on C57Bl/6JRJ mice to induce motion sickness and reveal its effects on the BBB. Mice were centrifuged at 2× g for 24 h. Fluorescent dextrans with different sizes (40, 70 and 150 kDa) and fluorescent antisense oligonucleotides (AS) were injected into mice retro-orbitally. The presence of fluorescent molecules was revealed by epifluorescence and confocal microscopies in brain slices. Gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR from brain extracts. Only the 70 kDa dextran and AS were detected in the parenchyma of several brain regions, suggesting an alteration in the BBB. Moreover, Ctnnd1, Gja4 and Actn1 were upregulated, whereas Jup, Tjp2, Gja1, Actn2, Actn4, Cdh2 and Ocln genes were downregulated, specifically suggesting a dysregulation in the tight junctions of endothelial cells forming the BBB. Our results confirm the alteration in the BBB after a short period of hypergravity exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dubayle
- CNRS, INCC, UMR 8002, Université Paris Cité, F-75006 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
| | - Arnaud Vanden-Bossche
- INSERM, SAINBIOSE U1059, Mines Saint-Etienne, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne, F-42023 Saint-Étienne, France
| | - Tom Peixoto
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Luc Morel
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, IMN, UMR 5293, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
- Correspondence: (D.D.); (J.-L.M.)
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7
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Krittanawong C, Singh NK, Scheuring RA, Urquieta E, Bershad EM, Macaulay TR, Kaplin S, Dunn C, Kry SF, Russomano T, Shepanek M, Stowe RP, Kirkpatrick AW, Broderick TJ, Sibonga JD, Lee AG, Crucian BE. Human Health during Space Travel: State-of-the-Art Review. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010040. [PMID: 36611835 PMCID: PMC9818606 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of human space travel is in the midst of a dramatic revolution. Upcoming missions are looking to push the boundaries of space travel, with plans to travel for longer distances and durations than ever before. Both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and several commercial space companies (e.g., Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic) have already started the process of preparing for long-distance, long-duration space exploration and currently plan to explore inner solar planets (e.g., Mars) by the 2030s. With the emergence of space tourism, space travel has materialized as a potential new, exciting frontier of business, hospitality, medicine, and technology in the coming years. However, current evidence regarding human health in space is very limited, particularly pertaining to short-term and long-term space travel. This review synthesizes developments across the continuum of space health including prior studies and unpublished data from NASA related to each individual organ system, and medical screening prior to space travel. We categorized the extraterrestrial environment into exogenous (e.g., space radiation and microgravity) and endogenous processes (e.g., alteration of humans' natural circadian rhythm and mental health due to confinement, isolation, immobilization, and lack of social interaction) and their various effects on human health. The aim of this review is to explore the potential health challenges associated with space travel and how they may be overcome in order to enable new paradigms for space health, as well as the use of emerging Artificial Intelligence based (AI) technology to propel future space health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chayakrit Krittanawong
- Department of Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Correspondence: or (C.K.); (B.E.C.); Tel.: +1-713-798-4951 (C.K.); +1-281-483-0123 (B.E.C.)
| | - Nitin Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
| | | | - Emmanuel Urquieta
- Translational Research Institute for Space Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric M. Bershad
- Department of Neurology, Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Scott Kaplin
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Carly Dunn
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stephen F. Kry
- Department of Radiation Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Marc Shepanek
- Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer, NASA, Washington, DC 20546, USA
| | | | - Andrew W. Kirkpatrick
- Department of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | | | - Jean D. Sibonga
- Division of Biomedical Research and Environmental Sciences, NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA
| | - Andrew G. Lee
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A and M College of Medicine, College Station, TX 77807, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Brian E. Crucian
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center, Human Health and Performance Directorate, Houston, TX 77058, USA
- Correspondence: or (C.K.); (B.E.C.); Tel.: +1-713-798-4951 (C.K.); +1-281-483-0123 (B.E.C.)
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8
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Clément G, Moudy SC, Macaulay TR, Bishop MO, Wood SJ. Mission-critical tasks for assessing risks from vestibular and sensorimotor adaptation during space exploration. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1029161. [PMID: 36505047 PMCID: PMC9733831 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1029161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To properly assess the risk induced by vestibular and sensorimotor adaptation during exploration missions, we examined how long-duration stays on the International Space Station affect functional performance after gravity transitions. Mission-critical tasks that challenge the balance and the locomotion control systems were assessed: i.e., sit-to-stand, recovery-from-fall, tandem-walk, and walk-and-turn. We assessed 19 astronauts, including 7 first-time flyers and 12 experienced flyers, before their flight, a few hours after landing, and then 1 day and 6-11 days later. Results show that adaptation to long-term weightlessness causes deficits in functional performance immediately after landing that can last for up to 1 week. No differences were observed between first-time and experienced astronaut groups. These data suggest that additional sensorimotor-based countermeasures may be necessary to maintain functional performance at preflight levels when landing on planetary surfaces after a long period in weightlessness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Clément
- KBR, Houston, TX, United States,NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Gilles Clément,
| | | | | | | | - Scott J. Wood
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States
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9
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Jordan J, Limper U, Tank J. Cardiovascular autonomic nervous system responses and orthostatic intolerance in astronauts and their relevance in daily medicine. Neurol Sci 2022; 43:3039-3051. [PMID: 35194757 PMCID: PMC9018660 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-022-05963-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background The harsh environmental conditions during space travel, particularly weightlessness, impose a major burden on the human body including the cardiovascular system. Given its importance in adjusting the cardiovascular system to environmental challenges, the autonomic nervous system has been in the focus of scientists and clinicians involved in human space flight. This review provides an overview on human autonomic research under real and simulated space conditions with a focus on orthostatic intolerance. Methods The authors conducted a targeted literature search using Pubmed. Results Overall, 120 articles were identified and included in the review. Conclusions Postflight orthostatic intolerance is commonly observed in astronauts and could pose major risks when landing on another celestial body. The phenomenon likely results from changes in volume status and adaptation of the autonomic nervous system to weightlessness. Over the years, various non-pharmacological and pharmacological countermeasures have been investigated. In addition to enabling safe human space flight, this research may have implications for patients with disorders affecting cardiovascular autonomic control on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Jordan
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany. .,Aerospace Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Limper
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Merheim Medical Center, Hospitals of Cologne, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jens Tank
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center DLR, Linder Hoehe, 51147, Cologne, Germany
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10
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Friedl-Werner A, Machado ML, Balestra C, Liegard Y, Philoxene B, Brauns K, Stahn AC, Hitier M, Besnard S. Impaired Attentional Processing During Parabolic Flight. Front Physiol 2021; 12:675426. [PMID: 34054584 PMCID: PMC8155259 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.675426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that altered gravity levels during parabolic flight maneuvers affect spatial updating. Little is known about the impact of the experimental setting and psychological stressors associated with parabolic flight experiments on attentional processes. To address this gap, we investigated the level of alertness, selective and sustained attention in 1 and 0 g using a Go/No-Go Continuous Performance Task. We also identified several parameters associated with the experimental set-up of a parabolic flight that could be expected to affect attentional processing. These included the use of scopolamine, sleep quality prior to the flight day, participant’s stress level as well as mood and anxiety state before and after the parabolic flight. We observed a deterioration in attentional processing prior to the first parabola that was further aggravated in weightlessness and returned to baseline after the last parabola. Reaction Time, Hit and False Alarm Rate were moderately correlated with self-reported anxiety state, but not cortisol levels or emotional states. The use of scopolamine had minor effects on Reaction Time. Our results confirm previous studies reporting impairments of cognitive performance in 0 g, and highlight important aspects that should be considered for the design of behavioral research experiments in future parabolic flight campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Friedl-Werner
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Université de Normandie, INSERM U1075 COMETE, Caen, France
| | | | - Costantino Balestra
- Environmental, Occupational & Ageing "Integrative Physiology" Laboratory, Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant, Brussels, Belgium.,DAN Europe Research Division (Roseto (It)-Brussels (B)), Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Katharina Brauns
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander C Stahn
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Physiology, Center for Space Medicine and Extreme Environments Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Unit of Experimental Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Martin Hitier
- Université de Normandie, INSERM U1075 COMETE, Caen, France.,Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen Normandie, Caen, France.,Department of Anatomy, Université de Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Stephane Besnard
- Université de Normandie, INSERM U1075 COMETE, Caen, France.,Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7260, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Sensorielles et Cognitives - Equipe Physiopathologie et Thérapie des Désordres Vestibulaires, Marseille, France
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11
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Davis LA, Carzoli JP, Feka K, Nelson C, Enoka RM. Exercise with TENS does not augment gains in balance and strength for dancers. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2020; 56:102507. [PMID: 33249347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2020.102507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation modulates sensory feedback and improves motor performance, at least for individuals with compromised sensorimotor function. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 4-wk intervention with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at improving strength and balance in dancers. Nineteen dancers completed a timed, single-leg balance test, the Y-balance test, and contractions with the hip flexor and knee extensor muscles to assess maximal strength and force steadiness. They completed 4-wks of moderate-intensity bodyweight exercises (3x/wk) and were pseudo-randomized to either a Treatment or Sham group in a single-blind design. The Treatment group received constant TENS over the hamstring muscles during the exercises, whereas the Sham group was exposed to a brief TENS current. The data were pooled due to few significant between-group differences from before to after the intervention. Most outcome measures significantly improved: hip extensor muscles were stronger (P ≤ 0.01), time stood on a single-leg with eyes closed increased (P = 0.02), and the distance reached during the Y-balance test increased (P ≤ 0.001). The improvement in scores on the Y-balance test exceeded the minimal clinically significant change. Twelve sessions of moderate-intensity bodyweight exercises improved muscle strength and balance in experienced dancers. The addition of TENS, however, did not augment the gains in function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah A Davis
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Joseph P Carzoli
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kaltrina Feka
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA; Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Christina Nelson
- Department of Theater and Dance, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Roger M Enoka
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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Clément GR, Boyle RD, George KA, Nelson GA, Reschke MF, Williams TJ, Paloski WH. Challenges to the central nervous system during human spaceflight missions to Mars. J Neurophysiol 2020; 123:2037-2063. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00476.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel presents a number of environmental challenges to the central nervous system, including changes in gravitational acceleration that alter the terrestrial synergies between perception and action, galactic cosmic radiation that can damage sensitive neurons and structures, and multiple factors (isolation, confinement, altered atmosphere, and mission parameters, including distance from Earth) that can affect cognition and behavior. Travelers to Mars will be exposed to these environmental challenges for up to 3 years, and space-faring nations continue to direct vigorous research investments to help elucidate and mitigate the consequences of these long-duration exposures. This article reviews the findings of more than 50 years of space-related neuroscience research on humans and animals exposed to spaceflight or analogs of spaceflight environments, and projects the implications and the forward work necessary to ensure successful Mars missions. It also reviews fundamental neurophysiology responses that will help us understand and maintain human health and performance on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard D. Boyle
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California
| | | | - Gregory A. Nelson
- Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, School of Medicine Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California
| | - Millard F. Reschke
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Thomas J. Williams
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
| | - William H. Paloski
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
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Saveko A, Rukavishnikov I, Brykov V, Osetsky N, Ryazanskiy S, Grishin MA, Tomilovskaya E, Kozlovskaya I. Foot-ground reaction force during long-term space flight and after it: walking in active treadmill mode. Gait Posture 2020; 76:382-388. [PMID: 31923758 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2019.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alina Saveko
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Ilya Rukavishnikov
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Vitaly Brykov
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Nikolay Osetsky
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Sergey Ryazanskiy
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | - Elena Tomilovskaya
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Inesa Kozlovskaya
- RF State Scientific Center - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007, 76A Khoroshevskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia.
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Resuscitation and Evacuation from Low Earth Orbit: A Systematic Review. Prehosp Disaster Med 2019; 34:521-531. [PMID: 31462335 DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x19004734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Provision of critical care and resuscitation was not practical during early missions into space. Given likely advancements in commercial spaceflight and increased human presence in low Earth orbit (LEO) in the coming decades, development of these capabilities should be considered as the likelihood of emergent medical evacuation increases. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Technical Server, and Defense Technical Information Center were searched from inception to December 2018. Articles specifically addressing critical care and resuscitation during emergency medical evacuation from LEO were selected. Evidence was graded using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines. RESULTS The search resulted in 109 articles included in the review with a total of 2,177 subjects. There were two Level I systematic reviews, 33 Level II prospective studies with 647 subjects, seven Level III retrospective studies with 1,455 subjects, and two Level IV case series with four subjects. There were two Level V case reports and 63 pertinent review articles. DISCUSSION The development of a medical evacuation capability is an important consideration for future missions. This review revealed potential hurdles in the design of a dedicated LEO evacuation spacecraft. The ability to provide critical care and resuscitation during transport is likely to be limited by mass, volume, cost, and re-entry forces. Stabilization and treatment of the patient should be performed prior to departure, if possible, and emphasis should be on a rapid and safe return to Earth for definitive care.
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Anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments in response to loading perturbation of unknown magnitude. Exp Brain Res 2018; 237:173-180. [PMID: 30368551 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5397-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In response to sudden postural perturbations, the posture control system uses anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments (APAs and CPAs) to maintain balance and equilibrium. APAs strengthen as the perturbation magnitude increases, while CPAs remain constant because APAs make the necessary adjustments. However, the magnitude of a postural perturbation cannot always be fully known. This research focused on postural adjustments in response to perturbations with unknown magnitude. Participants caught falling sandbags of three weights on a tray held in their hands. Participants were told about the weight used for the upcoming trial in the KNOWN condition and not told in the UNKNOWN condition. Surface electromyography (sEMG) of the lumbar muscles and displacement of the center of pressure (COP) were recorded synchronously. The results showed that APAs and CPAs were stronger in the UNKNOWN condition than in the KNOWN condition. Meanwhile, in the UNKNOWN condition, the activity of the lumbar muscles and displacements of the COP showed no difference between weight levels. The lumbar erector spinae (LES) and lumbar multifidus (LMF) activated earlier in the UNKNOWN condition than for the heaviest weight in the KNOWN condition. The outcome of this study indicates that APAs and CPAs of lumbar muscles and displacements of the COP are affected by the knowledge of postural perturbations. The central nervous system (CNS) coped with load perturbations of unknown magnitude with redundancy response strategy, based on the maximum assumption of perturbation magnitude.
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