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Head Down Tilt Bed Rest Plus Elevated CO2 as a Spaceflight Analog: Effects on Cognitive and Sensorimotor Performance
Jessica K Lee1,2, Yiri De Dios3, Igor Kofman3
1Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|November 5, 2019
Summary
Long duration head down tilt bed rest with elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) improved processing speed but decreased mobility. Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) led to increased visual dependence and slower, more accurate performance.
Area of Science:
- Space physiology
- Human performance in extreme environments
Background:
- Head down tilt bed rest (HDBR) simulates microgravity.
- Astronauts on the ISS report CO2 symptoms at lower levels than on Earth.
- Microgravity causes fluid shifts and unloading, potentially interacting with CO2 effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of HDBR and elevated CO2 on cognitive and sensorimotor performance.
- To evaluate the impact of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) on performance during simulated spaceflight.
Main Methods:
- 30 days of 6° HDBR with 0.5% CO2 exposure.
- Assessment of mission-relevant cognitive and sensorimotor functions.
- Comparison of performance between participants with and without SANS signs.
Main Results:
- HDBR + CO2 facilitated processing speed and impaired functional mobility compared to HDBR alone.
- Nearly half of participants developed SANS.
- SANS subgroup showed increased visual dependence and a slower, more accurate speed-accuracy tradeoff.
Conclusions:
- Combined HDBR and elevated CO2 impact cognitive and sensorimotor performance differently than HDBR alone.
- SANS may influence in-flight performance through sensory reweighting.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring CO2 and SANS in spaceflight.
