Mission-critical tasks for assessing risks from vestibular and sensorimotor adaptation during space exploration

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology 2022-11, Vol.13, p.1029161-1029161
• Main Authors: Clément, Gilles, Moudy, Sarah C, Macaulay, Timothy R, Bishop, Michael O, Wood, Scott J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adaptation; functional performance; Physiology; sensorimotor system; spaceflight; vestibular tests
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1029161

To properly assess the risk induced by vestibular and sensorimotor adaptation during exploration missions, we examined how long-duration stays on the International Space Station affect functional performance after gravity transitions. Mission-critical tasks that challenge the balance and the locomotion control systems were assessed: i.e., sit-to-stand, recovery-from-fall, tandem-walk, and walk-and-turn. We assessed 19 astronauts, including 7 first-time flyers and 12 experienced flyers, before their flight, a few hours after landing, and then 1 day and 6-11 days later. Results show that adaptation to long-term weightlessness causes deficits in functional performance immediately after landing that can last for up to 1 week. No differences were observed between first-time and experienced astronaut groups. These data suggest that additional sensorimotor-based countermeasures may be necessary to maintain functional performance at preflight levels when landing on planetary surfaces after a long period in weightlessness.