Sensorimotor impairments during spaceflight: Trigger mechanisms and haptic assistance

Area of Science:

• Human sensorimotor performance
• Spaceflight adaptation
• Human-machine interaction

Background:

• Manned space missions require optimal human sensorimotor function.
• Microgravity is known to impair sensorimotor performance.
• Haptic feedback from human-machine interfaces may offer compensation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of cognitive load and learning on sensorimotor performance.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of haptic feedback in mitigating microgravity-induced sensorimotor deficits.
• To analyze sensorimotor adaptation during spaceflight.

Main Methods:

• Sensorimotor tasks (aiming, tracking) performed with a force feedback joystick.
• Variable haptic settings: spring stiffness, damping, virtual mass, and no haptics.
• Terrestrial studies on cognitive load and learning effects, followed by a space study on the International Space Station (ISS).

Main Results:

• Cognitive load increased reaction times and tracking error but did not affect aiming precision.
• Significant learning effects were observed in terrestrial tasks.
• Microgravity initially impaired aiming precision, but this was compensated by low to medium spring stiffness and virtual mass settings.

Conclusions:

• Distorted proprioception in early microgravity adaptation is a key factor in sensorimotor impairment.
• Haptic feedback, particularly spring stiffness and virtual mass, can effectively compensate for these impairments.
• Optimized human-machine interfaces are crucial for maintaining sensorimotor performance during space missions.