Posture, locomotion, spatial orientation, and motion sickness as a function of space flight

Reschke, Millard F.; Bloomberg, Jacob J.; Harm, Deborah L.; Paloski, William H.; Layne, Charles S.; McDonald, Vernon

doi:10.1016/s0165-0173(98)00031-9

Cited by 179 publications

(102 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…These observations are not surprising, since even adult organisms respond to altered gravity. The adult CNS may show an adjustment to altered gravity in the form of altered behavior, as indicated by observation that the majority of astronauts experience changes in motor coordination during their initial exposure to weightlessness in space and the initial period following their return to Earth (Tafforin, 1990;Layne et al, 1997;Reschke et al, 1998;Yates et al, 2003). On the other hand, the response of the developing CNS to altered gravity is more dramatic, encompassing extensive changes in both CNS structure and function as suggested by observations in rats that the prenatal exposure to microgravity affects the righting response (Bruce and Fritzsch, 1997) and motor and equilibrium behavior (Aizikov and Markin, 1981) that are associated with structural changes in the brain (Azikov and Markin, 1981).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to altered gravity during specific developmental periods differentially affects growth, development, the cerebellum and motor functions in male and female rats

Nguon

Ladd

Sajdel-Sulkowska

2006

Advances in Space Research

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We previously reported that perinatal exposure to hypergravity affects cerebellar structure and motor coordination in rat neonates. In the present study, we explored the hypothesis that neonatal cerebellar structure and motor coordination may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of hypergravity during specific developmental stages. To test this hypothesis, we compared neurodevelopment, motor behavior and cerebellar structure in rat neonates exposed to 1.65 G on a 24-ft centrifuge during discrete periods of time: the 2 nd week of pregnancy [gestational day (G) 8 through G15; group A], the 3 rd week of pregnancy (G15 through birth on G22/G23; group B), the 1 st week of nursing [birth through postnatal day (P) 6; group C], the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks of nursing (P6 through P21; group D), the combined 2 nd and 3 rd weeks of pregnancy and nursing (G8 through P21; group E) and stationary control (SC) neonates (group F). Prenatal exposure to hypergravity resulted in intrauterine growth retardation as reflected by a decrease in the number of pups in a litter and lower average mass at birth. Exposure to hypergravity immediately after birth impaired the righting response on P3, while the startle response in both males and females was most affected by exposure during the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks after birth. Hypergravity exposure also impaired motor functions, as evidenced by poorer performance on a rotarod; while both males and females exposed to hypergravity during the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks after birth performed poorly on P21, male neonates were most dramatically affected by exposure to hypergravity during the second week of gestation, when the duration of their recorded stay on the rotarod was one half that of SC males. Cerebellar mass was most reduced by later postnatal exposure. Thus, for the developing rat cerebellum, the postnatal period that overlaps the brain growth spurt is the most vulnerable to hypergravity. However, male motor behavior is also affected by midpregnancy exposure to hypergravity, suggesting discrete and sexually dimorphic windows of vulnerability of the developing central nervous system to environmental perturbations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to altered gravity during specific developmental periods differentially affects growth, development, the cerebellum and motor functions in male and female rats

Nguon

Ladd

Sajdel-Sulkowska

2006

Advances in Space Research

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“…Space motion sickness (SMS) is a specific example of motion sickness under microgravity conditions. Overall, it is estimated that approximately 70% of astronauts experience some symptoms of motion sickness during the first 3 days of their first space mission [Davis et al, 1988;Reschke et al, 1998]. …”

Section: Pharmaceutical Countermeasures Have Opposite Effects On the mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It assumes that, under normal gravitational conditions, human orientation is based on at least three sensory inputs: the vestibular system, the visual system, and the proprioceptive system. Motion sickness results from a discrepancy in information about the ongoing body movement generated by the different sensory systems or from a difference between the real sensed information and the information which should be expected based on previous experience and which is stored in neural patterns [Reason, 1978;Oman, 1990;Reschke et al, 1998;Lackner and Dizio, 2006;Shupak and Gordon, 2006]. The conflicting information travels to the vestibular nuclei, through the cerebellum to the vomiting center in the parvicellular reticular formation of the medulla oblongata, and to other brainstem autonomic and hypothalamic areas.…”

Section: Pharmaceutical Countermeasures Have Opposite Effects On the mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmaceutical Countermeasures Have Opposite Effects on the Utricles and Semicircular Canals in Man

et al. 2012

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Introduction: Sensory conflicts in the vestibular system lead to motion sickness of which space motion sickness (SMS) is a special case. SMS affects up to 70% of the astronauts during the first 3 days in space. The search for effective countermeasures has led to several nonpharmacological and pharmacological approaches. The current study focuses on the effects of lorazepam (1 mg), meclizine (25 mg), promethazine (25 mg), and scopolamine (0.4 mg) on the vestibular system, with special focus on the canal and otolith functions separately. Methods: The study had a placebo-controlled, single blind, repeated measures design. Sixteen healthy volunteers were subjected to a total of 7 test sessions, the first and last being without intake of medication. Semicircular canal function was evaluated by means of electronystagmography and otolith function with unilateral centrifugation. The horizontal semicircular canal function was characterized by the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain measured during earth vertical axis rotation as well as the total caloric response. The function of the utricles was represented by the utricular sensitivity, reflecting the ocular counter roll relative to the virtual induced head tilt. Results: Promethazine significantly decreased the semicircular canal and utricular parameters. Both scopolamine and lorazepam caused only a decrease in the utricular sensitivity, whereas meclizine only decreased the semicircular canal-induced VOR gain. Discussion: The results show that the drugs affected different areas of the vestibular system and that the effects can thus be attributed to the specific pharmacological properties of each drug. Meclizine, as an antihistaminergic and weak anticholinergic drug, only affected the VOR gain, suggesting a central action on the medial vestibular nucleus. The same site of action is suggested for the anticholinergic scopolamine since acetylcholine receptors are present and utricular fibers terminate here. The global vestibular suppression caused by promethazine is probably a consequence of its anticholinergic, antihistaminergic, and antidopaminergic properties. Based on the fact that lorazepam increased the affinity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for the GABA_A-receptor and its effects on the utriculi, the site of action seems to be the lateral vestibular nucleus. Conclusion: Meclizine, scopolamine, and lorazepam selectively suppress specific parts of the vestibular system. Selective suppression of different parts of the vestibular system may be more beneficial for alleviating (space) motion sickness than general suppressive agents. Additionally, this knowledge may help the clinician in his therapeutic management of patients with either semicircular canal or otolith dysfunction.

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“…Data collected from Space Shuttle missions report 70-80% of astronauts suffer from Space Adaptation Syndrome (or space motion sickness) during the first 2-3 days in microgravity and many suffer from post-flight readaptation sickness upon return to Earth (Davis, Vanderploeg, Santy, Jenning & Stewart, 1988;Heer & Paloski, 2006;Reschke et al, 1998). Work schedules and mission events are typically developed on a flexible timetable and extra vehicular activities are not scheduled during the first three days in space to accommodate the potential impact of motion sickness on crewmembers.…”

Section: Impact Of Motion Sickness On the Military And Astronautsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparison of Intranasal and Oral Scopolamine for Motion Sickness Prevention in Military Personnel

Simmons¹,

Phillips²,

Lojewski³

et al. 2008

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Executive SummaryMotion sickness in astronauts, aviators, and military personnel often leads to decrements in operational performance. The anti-motion sickness medication, scopolamine, is effective; however, oral and transdermal administrations have proven problematic due to slow absorption, low bioavailability, unpredictable therapeutic effect, potential medication loss due to emesis, and side effects. Although efficacy and side-effect characteristics of intranasally administered scopolamine have not been established, results from preliminary studies indicate intranasal scopolamine has faster absorption, higher bioavailability, and a more reliable therapeutic index than equivalent oral or transdermal forms. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy, side-effect profile, and pharmacotherapeutics of a 0.4 mg dose of intranasal scopolamine gel and a 0.8 mg dose of oral scopolamine. It was hypothesized that intranasal delivery of scopolamine would rapidly achieve therapeutic concentrations at lower doses compared to oral scopolamine while minimizing medication-induced performance impairment. To test these hypotheses, 54 aviation candidates, 50 male and 4 female, were recruited and randomized to one of three treatment groups [intranasal scopolamine gel (IN SCOP); oral scopolamine (PO SCOP); or placebo] and then exposed to passive Coriolis cross-coupling for 40 minutes or until moderate nausea was reported. Medication efficacy was determined by number of head movements tolerated among groups and pharmacotherapeutics for IN SCOP and PO SCOP were determined by salivary assay. Side-effect profiles for all groups were derived from performance on a cognitive battery, measurements of near-focus visual accommodation (VA), scores on the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and motion sickness questionnaires. Analysis detected no significant differences in the number of head movements tolerated among groups, p > 0.05. Pharmacotherapeutic data show increased scopolamine absorption and decreased time to reach maximum salivary concentration with intranasal administration (T max = 1.463 ± 0.98 hr, C max = 54.857± 103.739 ng/mL, AUC = 51.732 ± 93.802 ng*h/mL). No treatment effects were detected over time on the cognitive battery, VA, or KSS, p > 0.05. An ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in heart rate over time for IN SCOP and PO SCOP versus placebo at several time points post-dose, while no clinically significant differences were found for systolic or diastolic blood pressures. A negative linear relationship was found between Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ) scores and number of head movements (r = -.24, p < .05). The present study lacked sufficient power to draw definitive conclusions regarding efficacy or to make adequate comparisons between the two medications, F (2, 50) = 0.743, p > .05, observed power = 17 %, however; medication absorption was significantly greater for IN SCOP at onehalf the dose (0.4 mg v. 0.8 mg) with no side effects or detrimental impact to performance. 3 Introduction Impac...

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Posture, locomotion, spatial orientation, and motion sickness as a function of space flight

Cited by 179 publications

References 74 publications

Exposure to altered gravity during specific developmental periods differentially affects growth, development, the cerebellum and motor functions in male and female rats

Exposure to altered gravity during specific developmental periods differentially affects growth, development, the cerebellum and motor functions in male and female rats

Pharmaceutical Countermeasures Have Opposite Effects on the Utricles and Semicircular Canals in Man

A Comparison of Intranasal and Oral Scopolamine for Motion Sickness Prevention in Military Personnel

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