Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Is dual-task performance necessarily impaired in space?

B Fowler1, O Bock, D Comfort

  • 1York University, North York, Ontario, Canada. bfowler@yorku.ca

Human Factors
|October 7, 2000
PubMed
Summary

Spaceflight stressors, not microgravity itself, impair astronaut dual-task performance. Careful task design and training can prevent performance deficits during space missions.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Characterization of transient noise in Advanced LIGO relevant to gravitational wave signal GW150914.

Classical and quantum gravity·2020
Same author

GW150914: First results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with Advanced LIGO.

Physical review. D. (2016)·2020
Same author

Tests of General Relativity with GW170817.

Physical review letters·2019
Same author

Constraining the p-Mode-g-Mode Tidal Instability with GW170817.

Physical review letters·2019
Same author

Search for Subsolar-Mass Ultracompact Binaries in Advanced LIGO's First Observing Run.

Physical review letters·2018
Same author

An unexpected cause of bilateral periorbital oedema.

Clinical and experimental dermatology·2018

Area of Science:

  • Human spaceflight research
  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive performance

Background:

  • Previous spaceflight studies reported impaired dual-task performance.
  • This impairment was hypothesized to stem from microgravity's direct effects or the spaceflight environment's multiple stressors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate between microgravity and environmental stressors as causes of impaired dual-task performance in astronauts.
  • To investigate the impact of a fixed attention strategy on dual-task performance during spaceflight.

Main Methods:

  • Six astronauts participated in the 16-day NASA Neurolab mission.
  • A dual task involving pursuit tracking and reaction time (RT) was administered.
  • Participants were trained, used a fixed attention strategy, and were physically restrained.

Main Results:

  • Absolute and variable tracking errors remained unimpaired.
  • Correct reaction time (RT) and its standard deviation were also unimpaired.
  • Increased variability in RT errors suggested a decrease in strategic control.

Conclusions:

  • Spaceflight-induced dual-task performance deficits are likely due to environmental stressors, not microgravity.
  • Adequate task design and astronaut training can mitigate performance decrements in spaceflight.

Related Experiment Videos