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- Title
The effect of long-term exposure to microgravity on the perception of upright.
- Authors
Harris, Laurence R.; Jenkin, Michael; Jenkin, Heather; Zacher, James E.; Dyde, Richard T.
- Abstract
Going into space is a disorienting experience. Many studies have looked at sensory functioning in space but the multisensory basis of orientation has not been systematically investigated. Here, we assess how prolonged exposure to microgravity affects the relative weighting of visual, gravity, and idiotropic cues to perceived orientation. We separated visual, body, and gravity (when present) cues to perceived orientation before, during, and after long-term exposure to microgravity during the missions of seven astronauts on the International Space Station (mean duration 168 days) and measuring perceived vertical using the subjective visual vertical and the perceptual upright. The relative influence of each cue and the variance of their judgments were measured. Fourteen ground-based control participants performed comparable measurements over a similar period. The variance of astronauts' subjective visual vertical judgments in the absence of visual cues was significantly larger immediately upon return to earth than before flight. Astronauts' perceptual upright demonstrated a reduced reliance on visual cues upon arrival on orbit that re-appeared long after returning to earth. For earth-bound controls, the contributions of body, gravity, and vision remained constant throughout the year-long testing period. This is the first multisensory study of orientation behavior in space and the first demonstration of long-term perceptual changes that persist after returning to earth. Astronauts showed a plasticity in the weighting of perceptual cues to orientation that could form the basis for future countermeasures. Sensory perception: Knowing which way is 'up' Prolonged exposure to microgravity has a long-term effect on the perception of upright. On earth we use visual, body, and gravity cues to help us determine the orientation of ourselves relative to the world which affects many perceptual tasks including reading, recognizing faces, and navigating. Laurence R. Harris and colleagues at York University assessed how seven astronauts who spent 168 days on average on the International Space Station perceived their orientation before, during and after flight. Although no changes were observed during their missions, astronauts' judgements in the absence of visual cues were worse upon return to earth compared with ground-based controls. Harris and his team found that the effect persisted for up to four months after the astronauts returned to earth. These findings could help develop countermeasures to avoid perceptual mistakes during space travel, and contribute to facilitating safer, long-duration journeys without gravity.
- Publication
NPJ Microgravity, 2017, Vol 5, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2373-8065
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41526-016-0005-5