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Sudden emesis following parabolic flight maneuvers: implications for space motion sickness
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|April 1, 1986
Summary
Space motion sickness can cause sudden vomiting without warning symptoms. This suggests that a lack of noticeable signs does not mean astronauts are not adapting to space environments.
Area of Science:
- Space motion sickness research
- Vestibular system function
- Human physiology in microgravity
Background:
- Astronauts report unexpected emesis (vomiting) during space missions.
- This raises questions about differences between space and terrestrial motion sickness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sudden vomiting occurs without prodromal symptoms in response to vestibular stimuli.
- To determine if space motion sickness differs from Earth-based motion sickness.
Main Methods:
- Experiments conducted during parabolic flights to simulate microgravity.
- Provocative vestibular stimulation was applied.
Main Results:
- Sudden vomiting was observed in response to vestibular stimuli, even without premonitory symptoms.
- This indicates that acute emesis can occur unexpectedly.
Conclusions:
- The absence of prominent motion sickness symptoms does not necessarily indicate a lack of sensitization.
- Space motion sickness may present differently than terrestrial motion sickness, with potential for sudden onset.