Sensory-motor integration and motor learning onboard the ISS

Paper number

IAC-08.A2.6.B3

Author

Ms. Claudia Casellato, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mrs. Alessandra Pedrocchi, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Prof. Giancarlo Ferrigno, Politecnico di Milano, Italy

Coauthor

Mr. Gianluca Neri, Kayser Italia Srl, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Gabriele Mascetti, Italian Space Agency (ASI), Italy

Year

2008

Abstract

The project aims to a better understanding on the functioning and adaptation of multi-sensory interaction within the Central Nervous System (CNS), both at peripheral and central level. During spaceflight, the negligible gravito-inertial force modifies both sensory information available for estimating the spatial orientation of the body and the biomechanical affordances available for achieving motor tasks. Thus, new strategies, similar to those that are manifested on Earth in response to disease, must be developed, by a recalibration of internal models.
Some contact forces seem to be used as cues by CNS to make rapid and automatic adjustments of motor output that preserve spatial patterns of posture and movement in novel force environments.
The work consists of recording and analysing astronauts’ motor behaviour during their prolonged space missions on the International Space Station (ISS). The kinematic data recording is carried out by the Italian payload ELITE-S2, an optoelectronic system for motion analysis, onboard the ISS since August 2007. Its exploitation is a really rare opportunity to collect data about the human motor learning in no-gravity staying of several months.
The set-up was made up of four cameras, placing an adequate work volume, calibrated by the astronaut himself.
The defined protocol is called MOVE, Movement in Orbital Vehicle Experiments; it schedules 48 trials of whole body pointing, that is getting a target symmetrically by both index fingers: half of trials brushing the target and half exchanging force freely with it. 
The first astronaut involved in the experimental sessions was Leopold Eyharts (mission STS-122); he performed two in-flight sessions, in order to monitor the time course of in-flight changes.
A detailed kinematic analysis was performed, by detecting the body segments and angular coordination, the end-point trajectory, the center of mass control and the velocity of movement. 
These parameters, representing the in-flight behaviour, are compared to the on-ground strategies detected during the pre-flight and post-flight sessions. They show that the human sensory-motor system is trained to change position in Earth’s ubiquitous gravitation field with little or no cognitive effort, by dynamically stabilizing the center of mass within the effective limits of support. The microgravity-induced changes originate at the periphery, and, as in-flight time increases,  habituation of responses appropriate to the new inertial environment occurs at a central level, without eliminating the terrestrial motor programs.
Other astronauts will be involved in the ELITE-S2 missions onboard the ISS. 

Abstract document

IAC-08.A2.6.B3.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.A2.6.B3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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