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Perception of spatial orientation in microgravity
1Center for Sensorimotor Research, Dept. of Neurology, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern-NRO, 81366, Munich, Germany. sglasauer@nefo.med.uni-muenchen.de
Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews
|October 31, 1998
Summary
Human spatial orientation is significantly altered in microgravity due to the lack of gravitational force. This leads to perceptual illusions and disorientation, likely caused by an internal estimate of gravity that is incorrectly updated.
Area of Science:
- Human physiology
- Neuroscience
- Space biology
Background:
- Human spatial orientation relies heavily on gravitational cues on Earth.
- Microgravity environments, such as those in space and during parabolic flights, remove this crucial reference.
- This leads to unique perceptual phenomena and disorientation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of research on human spatial orientation in microgravity.
- To explain observed perceptual phenomena, including illusions and disorientation.
- To propose future research directions in this field.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental results from space missions.
- Analysis of data from parabolic flight campaigns.
- Theoretical modeling of sensory information processing.
Main Results:
- Spatial orientation in microgravity differs significantly from Earth-based performance.
- Unusual perceptual phenomena, such as inversion illusions and motion errors, are commonly observed.
- Most disorientation can be attributed to an internal estimate of gravitational vertical that is maintained but incorrectly updated.
Conclusions:
- The internal estimate of gravitational vertical plays a key role in microgravity disorientation.
- Incorrect updating of this internal estimate alters central nervous system sensory processing.
- This alteration likely explains observed illusions and may contribute to space motion sickness.
Keywords:
Non-programmatic