STUDY OF VEGETATIVE REGULATION OF THE CARDIORESPIRATORY SYSTEM IN
WEIGHTLESSNESS (PULS/PULS PERFECTION), TWO INVESTIGATIONS
Research Area: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems
Expedition(s): 5-13
Principal Investigator(s): ● Roman M. Baevsky, MD, Institute of Medical and
Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, Moscow, Russia
● Irina I. Funtova, PhD, Institute of Medical and
Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, Moscow, Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The cardiovascular system and respiration play a
central role in the body's life support during
changes in the environment. Establishment of
ideal conditioning in the cardiorespiratory system
depends on the regulatory mechanisms' ability to
effectively control the interaction between the
activity of the heart, vascular system, and
respiratory apparatus. The Study of Vegetative
Regulation of the Cardiorespiratory System in
Weightlessness (Puls/Puls Perfection) obtains
new scientific information to improve the
understanding of the cardiorespiratory system's
mechanisms for adapting to long-term
spaceflight.
EARTH BENEFITS
In the process of the examination, pneumo-tachograms, electrocardiograms, and
photoplethysmograms are recorded, both at rest and during functional loadings. Using
contemporary mathematical models of the regulation of the cardiovascular system, the
following are evaluated: current functional status of the cardiovascular system, status of the
sympathetic and parasympathetic component of cardiovascular system regulation, and the
reserve capabilities of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
SPACE BENEFITS
For space medicine and for the practice of medical monitoring of crew members, it is important
to establish patterns of cardiorespiratory interaction when the body is at various functional
statuses, since, as is well known, disruptions to the regulation of physiological functions usually
precede the development of dangerous disruptions to homeostasis. The scientific results
obtained are used to improve the system for medically monitoring spaceflight crew members.
In addition, the materials obtained are highly important for understanding individual particulars
Cosmonaut during the Study of Vegetative
Regulation of the Cardiorespiratory System in
Weightlessness experiment session on the
International Space Station. Roscosmos image.