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Motion Perception: Vestibular Adaptation to G-Transitions (MOP)
05.15.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

Motion Perception: Vestibular Adaptation to G-Transitions (MOP) will provide insight in the process of vestibular adaptation to a gravity transition. Adaptation will be assessed by rating motion perception as a result of body movements. MOP will also correlate susceptibility to space adaptation syndrome (SAS) with susceptibility to sickness induced by centrifugation (SIC). The experimental results will allow the team to establish the time course of the adaptation process and thereby set a further step in the determination of key parameters in vestibular adaptation.

Principal Investigator

  • Eric Groen, Ph.D. TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands

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

  • Suzanne A.E. Nooij, Ph.D. TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
  • Jelte Bos, M.D., TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
  • Willem Bles, Ph.D., TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
  • Ries Simons, M.D., TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands
  • Ted Meeuwsen, Center for Man and Aviation, Soesterberg, The Netherlands

    • Payload Developer

    TNO Human Factors, Soesterberg, The Netherlands

    Sponsoring Agency

    European Space Agency (ESA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |8|10|11|16|18|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Information Pending

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • During the first days in space 50-80 % of the crewmembers suffer from the space adaptation syndrome (SAS). Motion Perception: Vestibular Adaptation to G-Transitions (MOP) will examine the hypothesis that susceptibility to SAS correlates with susceptibility to sickness induced by centrifugation (SIC).


    • This is of interest since a correlation implicates a general vestibular adaptation mechanism to changing G-levels. The vestibular adaptation to gravity transitions forms the focus of the current experiments.


    • Susceptibility to SIC will be assessed after a 1 hour 3g centrifuge run, the susceptibility to SAS and vestibular adaptation process will be the focus of the inflight experiment.

    Description

    The main scientific objective of this experiment is to gain insight into the process of how the body's vestibular system adapts to the absence of gravity. In humans, the vestibular system together with visual information determines the body's coordination, posture and balance and the perception of movement and orientation.

    The adaptation in the vestibular system will be assessed by comparing the perception of motion against the real movement of the body. To this end, the astronaut will be asked to fill in a short questionnaire every day during the spaceflight, wherein he reports his motion sensation as a result of head movements around the three principal axes. Head movements are important in the experiment as the inner ear is the location of the sensory organs of the vestibular system.

    The astronaut will also be questioned on whether he experiences any discomfort regarding space adaptation syndrome, commonly known as `space sickness', caused by their daily activities. A second objective of the Motion Perception experiment is to correlate an astronaut's susceptibility to space sickness with a susceptibility to sickness induced by centrifugation. Sickness induced by centrifugation is a condition with similarities to space sickness. A pre-flight ground experiment will be performed wherein the astronaut's susceptibility to sickness induced by centrifugation is assessed by exposing him to hypergravity (approximately 3g) in a centrifuge.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Information Pending

    Earth Applications

    Information Pending

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    Information Pending

    Operational Protocols

    Vestibular adaptation to a gravity transition is assessed by rating motion perception as a result of body movements. To this end, the cosmonauts are asked to fill in a short questionnaire every day during the spaceflight, wherein they report their motion sensation as a result of head movements, and whether they experience any discomfort regarding SAS caused by their daily activities. Emphasis will lie on the effect of head movements around the three principal axes. To correlate susceptibility to SAS with susceptibility to SIC, prior to the spaceflight, a ground experiment is performed wherein the cosmonauts susceptibility to SIC is assessed. The cosmonaut will be exposed to hypergravity (a load of 3Gx for 1 hour) in a human centrifuge. Before and after the centrifuge run, some vestibular tests are performed 3D-tilt chair, operated in the pitch mode. to identify possible adaptation parameters

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites
  • Columbus Mission - European Experiment Programme

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications
      • Ockels WJ, Furrer R, Messerschmid E. Simulation of space adaptation syndrome on earth. Experimental Brain Research. ;79(3):661-663. 1990
      • Groen E, Bos JE, De Graaf B. Contribution of the otoliths to the human torsional vestibulo-ocular reflex. Journal of Vestibular Research. ;9: 27-36. 1999
      • Bles W, de Graaf B, Bos JE, Krol JR. A sustained hypergravity load as a tool to simulate space sickness. Journal of gravitational psychology. ;4: 1-4. 1997
      • Bles W, Graaf Bd. Postural consequences of long duration centrifugation. Journal of Vestibular Research. ;3: 87-95. 1993
      • Bles W, Raay Jv. Pre- and postflight (D-1) postural control in tilting environments. Advances in oto-rhino-laryngology. ;42: 13-17. 1988
      • Bles W, de Graaf B, Bos JE, Krol JR. A sustained hypergravity load as a tool to simulate space sickness. Journal of gravitational psychology. ;4: 1-4. 1997

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      Images

      imageMotion Perception experiment for the DELTA Mission. The main objective of this experiment is to gain insight into the process of how the body's vestibular system adapts to the absence of gravity. Image courtesy of TNO Human Factors.
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      Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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