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Effects of space flight on locomotor controlIn the microgravity environment of spaceflight, the relationship between sensory input and motor output is altered. During prolonged missions, neural adaptive processes come into play to recalibrate central nervous system function, thereby permitting new motor control strategies to emerge in the novel sensory environment of microgravity. However, the adaptive state achieved during spaceflight is inappropriate for a unit gravity environment and leads to motor control alterations upon return to Earth that include disturbances in locomotion. Indeed, gait and postural instabilities following the return to Earth have been reported in both U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts even after short duration (5- to 10-day) flights. After spaceflight, astronauts may: (1) experience the sensation of turning while attempting to walk a straight path, (2) encounter sudden loss of postural stability, especially when rounding corners, (3) perceive exaggerated pitch and rolling head movements during walking, (4) experience sudden loss of orientation in unstructured visual environments, or (5) experience significant oscillopsia during locomotion.
Document ID
20040201527
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Bloomberg, Jacob J.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Layne, Charles S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
McDonald, P. Vernon
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Peters, Brian T.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Huebner, William P.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Reschke, Millard F.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Berthoz, Alain
(Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Paris, France)
Glasauer, Stefan
(Ludwig-Maximilians-Univ. Munich, Germany)
Newman, Dava
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Jackson, D. Keoki
(Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. Cambridge, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Extended Duration Orbiter Medical Project
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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