Scaling Body-related Actions in the Absence of Gravity (Passages)
Research Area: Nervous and Vestibular Systems
Expedition(s): 21- 30
Principal Investigator(s): ● Marion Luyat, University of Lille Nord, Lille, France
● Joseph McIntyre, College de France, Paris, France
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Scaling Body-related Actions in the
Absence of Gravity (Passages) tests how
astronauts interpret visual information in
microgravity. From a theoretical
perspective, the experiment tests a
specific hypothesis from experimental
psychology, which states that human
visual perception is tuned to invariants of
the visual field to determine what actions
are afforded (offered or permitted) by the
environment. The experiment examines
how perception strategies have evolved
within the constraints imposed by gravity.
From a more practical viewpoint, the
experiment tests whether Earth-adapted
strategies lead to modifications or
outright errors in the perception of visual
space during spaceflight. Passages is
based on a known observation that
human beings unconsciously use eye
height to calibrate physical dimensions in
the visual field. The perceptual
mechanism relies on the fact that on
Earth eye height above the floor can be
known by the observer through
proprioception and an internal
representation of body scheme.
RESULTS
At the time of compilation of this document the experiment data was still being analysed prior
to publication of results.
This investigation is complete; however additional results are pending publication.
NASA astronaut Dan Burbank performs a session of the
Scaling Body-related Actions in the Absence of Gravity
experiment in the Columbus laboratory of the International
Space Station. NASA/ESA image.