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[EFFECT OF REPEATED SPACE FLIGHTS ON OCULAR TRACKING]
Aviakosmicheskaia I Ekologicheskaia Meditsina = Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
|June 28, 2016
Summary
Spaceflight impacts cosmonaut eye tracking, with first-time astronauts experiencing prolonged impairment. Repeat missions show quicker recovery, indicating adaptation to microgravity.
Area of Science:
- Space Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
Context:
- Investigates vestibular and ocular intersensory interactions in astronauts.
- Examines eye tracking function during and after space missions.
- Utilizes video oculography for precise eye movement analysis.
Purpose:
- To assess the impact of spaceflight duration on eye tracking.
- To compare eye tracking recovery in novice vs. experienced astronauts.
- To understand vestibular-ocular reflex adaptation in microgravity.
Summary:
- Eye tracking function was significantly impaired up to 9 days post-flight in cosmonauts on their first long-duration mission (125-215 days).
- Cosmonauts with prior spaceflight experience showed only transient eye tracking changes, resolving by post-flight day 4/5.
- Adaptation to microgravity and development of a new eye tracking strategy were observed primarily in first-time space travelers.
Impact:
- Highlights the neuro-sensory challenges of adapting to microgravity.
- Provides data for developing countermeasures for space-related visual disturbances.
- Informs astronaut training protocols for long-duration space missions.
