Cognitive and balance functions of astronauts after spaceflight are comparable to those of individuals with bilateral vestibulopathy

Frontiers in Neurology

Neurology

Michel Toupet¹  Christian Van Nechel¹  Timothy R. Macaulay²  Scott J. Wood³  Gaëlle Quarck⁴  Olga Kuldavletova⁴  Deborah C. Navarro Morales⁴  Pierre Denise⁴  Gilles Clément⁵  Charlotte Hautefort⁶ 

[1] Centre d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Oto-Neurologiques, Paris, France;KBR, Houston, TX, United States;NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, United States;Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France;Université de Caen Normandie, INSERM, COMETE U1075, CYCERON, CHU de Caen, Normandie Université, Caen, France;KBR, Houston, TX, United States;Université de Paris Cité, INSERM U1141, Paris, France;Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Assistance Publique, Hôpitaux de Paris, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France;

关键词: bilateral vestibular loss;    bilateral vestibular hypofunction;    astronauts;    vestibular tests;    time perception;    reaction time;    spaceflight;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fneur.2023.1284029

 received in 2023-08-27, accepted in 2023-10-06,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionThis study compares the balance control and cognitive responses of subjects with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) to those of astronauts immediately after they return from long-duration spaceflight on board the International Space Station.MethodsTwenty-eight astronauts and thirty subjects with BVP performed five tests using the same procedures: sit-to-stand, walk-and-turn, tandem walk, duration judgment, and reaction time.ResultsCompared to the astronauts' preflight responses, the BVP subjects' responses were impaired in all five tests. However, the BVP subjects' performance during the walk-and-turn and the tandem walk tests were comparable to the astronauts' performance on the day they returned from space. Moreover, the BVP subjects' time perception and reaction time were comparable to those of the astronauts during spaceflight. The BVP subjects performed the sit-to-stand test at a level that fell between the astronauts' performance on the day of landing and 1 day later.DiscussionThese results indicate that the alterations in dynamic balance control, time perception, and reaction time that astronauts experience after spaceflight are likely driven by central vestibular adaptations. Vestibular and somatosensory training in orbit and vestibular rehabilitation after spaceflight could be effective countermeasures for mitigating these post-flight performance decrements.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Clément, Kuldavletova, Macaulay, Wood, Navarro Morales, Toupet, Hautefort, Van Nechel, Quarck and Denise.