(Spin) Validation of Centrifugation as a Countermeasure for Otolith Deconditioning During Spaceflight
DURING SPACEFLIGHT (SPIN)
Research Area: Nervous and Vestibular Systems
Expedition(s): 16, 17, 19-22, 29, 30
Principal Investigator(s): ● Floris Wuyts, PhD, University of Antwerp, Belgium
● Steven T. Moore, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York, New York
● Hamish G. MacDougall, PhD, University of Sydney,
Sydney, Australia
● Gilles Clement, PhD, International Space University,
Strasbourg, France
● Bernard Cohen, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York, New York
● Nathalie Pattyn, MD, PhD, Royal Military Academy,
Brussels, Belgium
● Andre Diedrich, MD, PhD, Vanderbilt University Medical
Center, Nashville, Tennessee
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Validation of Centrifugation as a Countermeasure for Otolith Deconditioning During
Spaceflight (Spin) experiment investigates the effect of microgravity on otolith-ocular reflexes
and autonomic function to correlate the otolith-ocular reflex on orthostatic tolerance. The
effect of microgravity on subjective perception of verticality is also researched.
RESULTS
Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease of intervals between 2 heart beats (RRI) during
the counter-clockwise rotation measured preflight, compared to before rotation stimulus.
Comparison of the preflight data
with those measured postflight
revealed a trend that is
reoccurring during each postflight
measurement (Return+1, +4 and
+9 days), ie, a decrease of RRI
during both rotations compared
to the baseline recordings. The
decrease was significant for data
measured on Return +9 days.
Statistical analysis revealed no
significant effects for the phase of
the respiratory sinus arrhythmia
(RSA - a naturally occurring
variation in heart rate that occurs
during a breathing cycle). The
Final check before centrifugation of cosmonaut Youri Malenchenko
who is seated on the Visual and Vestibular Integration System (VVIS)
in Star City GCTC - Moscow. ESA image.