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Changes in gastric myoelectric activity during space flight.
Deborah L Harm1, Gwenn R Sandoz, Robert M Stern
1Neurosciences Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas 77058, USA.
Digestive Diseases and Sciences
|August 20, 2002
Summary
Astronauts experienced reduced stomach electrical activity during early spaceflight. This gastric dysrhythmia, measured by electrogastrography, correlated with space motion sickness symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Space Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Space motion sickness (SMS) is a common challenge for astronauts.
- Understanding the physiological basis of SMS is crucial for crew health.
- Gastric myoelectric activity plays a role in digestive function and can be affected by motion sickness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate postprandial (after eating) stomach electrical activity in astronauts.
- To explore the relationship between gastric activity and space motion sickness.
- To utilize electrogastrography (EGG) for measuring gastric myoelectric patterns.
Main Methods:
- Electrogastrography (EGG) was used to record stomach electrical activity.
- Measurements were taken preflight and inflight during space missions.
- Three crewmembers participated in the study, with EGG data analyzed for normal and dysrhythmic patterns.
Main Results:
- Preflight, subjects showed normal postprandial gastric responses.
- On flight day 1, crewmembers exhibited decreased gastric slow wave power after meals.
- By flight day 3, postprandial responses normalized.
- Gastric electrical activity became dysrhythmic (bradygastric/tachygastric frequencies) during nausea and vomiting episodes.
Conclusions:
- Gastric motility may be reduced in the initial days of space flight.
- Changes in gastric slow wave frequency during SMS are similar to laboratory-induced motion sickness.
- EGG is a valuable tool for assessing gastric function and its relation to space adaptation.