|
|
|
|
| Eye Movements and Motion Perception Induced by Off-Vertical-Axis Rotation (OVAR) at Small Angles of Tilt After Space Flight |
| DSO 499 |
| Overview |
|
Astronauts returning to Earth have experienced perceptual and motor coordination problems caused by sensorimotor adaptation to microgravity. The hypothesis is that the central nervous system changes the way it processes gravitational tilt information that it receives from the vestibular (otolith) system. Eye movements and perceptual responses during constant-velocity off-vertical-axis rotation will reflect changes in otolith function as astronauts readapt to gravity. The length of recovery is a function of flight duration (i.e., the longer astronauts are exposed to microgravity the longer they will take to recover). This DSO will examine changes in astronauts' spatial neural processing of gravitational tilt information following readaptation to gravity. Postflight oculomotor and perceptual responses during off-vertical-axis rotation will be compared to preflight responses to track the time of recovery. |
Editorial/Technical Comments: ShuttlePresskit
