correlate to balance changes. Data from 11 astronauts before and after short missions (12-16 d)
indicate decreased skin sensitivity on landing day at 3 and 25Hz on the great toe.
Hypersensitivity was found only for a subset of astronauts (n = 6) with significantly increased
sensitivity to 250Hz at the heel. This subset also displayed substantially reduced CDP
equilibrium scores on landing compared to non-hypersensitive participants (mean= 39 versus
68). Selective changes in skin sensitivity are apparent after spaceflight. Observed
hyposensitivity of slowly adapting receptors may indicate a strategy to reduce pressure input
during periods of unloading. Hypersensitivity of fast-adapting receptors coupled with reduced
equilibrium scores may reflect targeted sensory re-weighting. Altered gravito-inertial
environments reduce vestibular function in balance control, which may trigger increased
weighting of fast-adapting receptors. Understanding modulations to skin sensitivity has
translational implications for mitigating postural disequilibrium following spaceflight.
PUBLICATION(S)
Strzalkowski ND, Lowrey CR, Perry SD, Williams DR, Wood SJ, Bent LR. Selective weighting of
cutaneous receptor feedback and associated balance impairments following short duration
space flight. Neuroscience Letters. April 2015;592:94-98. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.02.046.
Lowrey C, Perry S, Strzalkowski N, Williams DR, Wood SJ, Bent LR. Selective skin sensitivity
changes and sensory reweighting following short-duration space flight. Journal of Applied
Physiology. March 15, 2014;116(6):683-692. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01200.2013.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.