Neurovestibular Response to Spaceflight

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Neurovestibular Response to Spaceflight

• And Other Sensory Mechanisms

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Overview

• Receptor Cells
• The Vestibular Apparatus
• Spatial Orientation
• Posture and Equilibrium
• Space Motion Sickness

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Types of Receptor Cells

• Thermoreceptors
• Temperature
• Chemoreceptors
• Taste and Smell
• Photoreceptors
• Light
• Mechanoreceptors
• Touch, Pressure, Stretch, Vibration, and Itch

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Taste
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Smell
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Vision
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Proprioreceptors
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Vestibular System
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Otolith Structure
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Head Motion
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Spatial Orientation
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Posture and Equilibrium
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Space Motion Sickness (SMS)

• Symptoms
• stomach discomfort
• nausea
• vomiting
• pallor
• cold sweating
• depressed appetite
• fatigue
• salivation

Most Accepted Explanation Sensory-Conflict
Perspective
Alternate Explanation Fluid Shifting
Affects 75 of crewmembers
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Countermeasures to SMS

• Drugs
• Intramuscular administration of promethazine.
• Seems to work, but astronauts use enough drugs as
  it is.
• Preflight adaptation apparatus and training
  devices (PATs)
• Promise the most effective countermeasure.
• Difficult to design and implement.

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Pointing at Stuff
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Fin