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Cardiac Adapted Sleep Parameter Electrocardiogram Recorder (CASPER)
04.26.13

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview

This content was provided by Marc O'Griofa, and is maintained in a database by the ISS Program Science Office.

Information provided courtesy of the Erasmus Experiment Archive.
Brief Summary

CASPER will examine the sleep patterns of ISS crewmembers by monitoring heart rates and information provided in a questionnaire. This information will help determine what might be causing any sleep disturbances and develop countermeasures.

Principal Investigator(s)

  • Marc O'Griofa, University College, Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

  • Derek O'Keeffe, Ph.D., University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    • Developer(s)

    University College Dublin, Dublin, , Ireland
    University of Limerick, Limerick, , Ireland

    Sponsoring Space Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Sponsoring Organization

    Information Pending

    Research Benefits

    Information Pending

    ISS Expedition Duration

    September 2006 - April 2007

    Expeditions Assigned

    14

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment Description

    Research Overview

    • Sleep is important to the overall health of the ISS crewmembers.


    • CASPER will monitor the heart rates of the ISS crewmembers while they sleep in order to determine if there is any physiological reason for sleep disturbances. To supplement this data, the crewmembers will complete questionnaires before and after their sleep period.


    • The data that is collected from this investigation may help develop countermeasures for future long duration missions and patients on Earth who suffer from sleep disturbances.

    Description

    The objective of the CASPER (Cardiac Adapted Sleep Parameter Electrocardiogram Recorder) experiment is to test and evaluate a method of monitoring sleep disturbance and sleep stability in weightlessness. CASPER combines objective physiological data and subjective inputs. Physiological data is obtained through a specially adapted vest, worn by the astronaut, with embedded sensors and cabling that connects ECG (Electrocardiogram) electrodes, for measuring heart rate, to a PDA for storing the heart rate data. Subjective inputs are obtained via a questionnaire, which runs on the same PDA. A questionnaire is completed both prior to and after each sleep period that the heart rate is measured.

    Data collected on this mission can help to establish and distinguish the reasons and patterns of astronaut sleep disruption and facilitate the development of relevant countermeasures to monitor and ensure astronaut sleep stability during long term space flight.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Information Pending

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    Results/More Information

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    Results Publications

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    Ground Based Results Publications

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    ISS Patents

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    Related Publications

      O-Griofa M.  The use of heart rate and heart rate variability as a marker for sleep. 55th International Astronautical Congress, Vancouver, Canada; 2004

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    Related Websites
  • The information provided is courtesy of the ESA Astrolab Mission web page.
  • Astrolab Newsletter

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    Imagery

    Information provided by the investigation team to the ISS Program Scientist's Office.
    If updates are needed to the summary please contact JSC-ISS-Program-Science-Group. For other general questions regarding space station research and technology, please feel free to call our help line at 281-244-6187 or e-mail at JSC-ISS-Research-Helpline.
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