Related Experiment Videos
Pointing arm movements in short- and long-term spaceflights
M Berger1, S Mescheriakov, E Molokanova
1Dept. of Sensorimotor Control, Innsbruck University, Austria.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|September 18, 1997
Summary
Astronauts adapted to microgravity by slowing arm movements, not relying more on vision. This suggests the central nervous system (CNS) uses control strategies to manage movement in space.
Area of Science:
- Space medicine
- Human physiology
- Sensorimotor adaptation
Background:
- Understanding sensorimotor adaptation is crucial for astronaut health and mission success.
- Microgravity significantly alters proprioceptive and motor control feedback loops.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate sensorimotor adaptation mechanisms during spaceflight.
- Analyze changes in arm pointing movement kinematics in microgravity.
Main Methods:
- Three cosmonauts performed horizontal arm pointing movements to visual targets.
- Austrian MONIMIR equipment recorded 3D arm position and presented targets on the Russian space station MIR.
- Data collected during 10-, 140-, and 172-day spaceflights, compared to preflight baseline.
Main Results:
- Movement accuracy remained constant, but movement duration significantly increased inflight.
- Peak velocities, acceleration, and deceleration values decreased significantly in microgravity.
- Velocity-time profiles showed altered acceleration-deceleration phase ratios.
- All acceleration-time profile phases increased by a similar factor inflight.
Conclusions:
- Movement slowing in microgravity is likely due to central nervous system (CNS) control strategies, not increased reliance on visual guidance.
- The CNS may employ strategies to mitigate the challenges of movement in altered gravity.
- Intra-movement control mechanisms are hypothesized to be important for coordination in microgravity.