[Vestibular function and interanalyzer interaction following space flight]

This paper presents the results of pre- and post-flight vestibular examinations using single and combined vestibular, optokinetic, proprioceptive, postural tests and cerebellar coordination tests. After extended flights most crewmembers showed spontaneous, position and positional nystagmus that points to vestibular dysfunction. The methods developed by the authors helped differentiate mechanisms of post-flight vestibular dysfunctions: in Group 1 subjects spontaneous nystagmus parameters varied during all tests; in Group 2 subjects they varied only in response to active tilt tests; in Group 3 subjects they varied only in response to vestibular, optovestibular and proprioceptive stimulation; and in Group 4 subjects they varied only in response to proprioceptive optovestibular stimulation and cerebellar coordination tests. Individual patterns of the above changes are associated with different pathways of adaptation of the vestibular function that depend on the involvement of various structures and compartments of the central nervous system.