[Changes of brain potentials related to auditory location discrimination during simulated weightlessness]

Objective. To study changes of brain response in distinguishing auditory location during simulated weightlessness. Method. The event-related potentials (ERPs) during auditory location discrimination were compared between head down tilt (HDT) and head up tilt (HUT) conditions among 14 healthy subjects. Result. (1) Both the target (T) and non-target (NT) auditory signals induced significant ERPS; (2) The slow potential was significantly lower for both T and NT-ERPs during HDT as compared with that during HUT; (3) The reduction of mean slow potential amplitude during HDT was more significant for the target signals from right-rear position and lightest for the target signals from right-front position. This phenomenon was more remarkable at left-front area. Conclusion. These data provide further evidence that the higher brain function was affected by simulated weightlessness.