Illusions in Space: The Impact of Weightlessness On Our Perception of Ambiguous Images
- Paper number
IAC-11,A1,2,14,x9345
- Coauthor
Mr. Alexander Melinyshyn, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Alexandra Kindrat, International Space University (ISU), Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Heather Allaway, Canada
- Coauthor
Ms. Jagruti Pankhania, Estonia
- Coauthor
Mr. Jonathan Muller, France
- Coauthor
Mr. Tahir Merali, Canada
- Coauthor
Mr. Michael Demel, International Space University (ISU), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Gilles Clément, International Space University (ISU), France
- Coauthor
Dr. Robert Thirsk, Canadian Astronaut Office, United States
- Year
2011
- Abstract
The input from the vestibular apparatus of the inner ear is gravity-dependent and plays an important role in the interpretation of our visual surroundings; it is essentially turned off in weightlessness. This may have numerous implications for higher-order processing centers in the neocortex responsible for sorting out ambiguous images: visual stimuli that can be interpreted in more than one way. Failure to properly interpret such images may result in illusions causing spatial disorientation, misjudgment of distance and thus, catastrophic accidents jeopardizing mission operations and crew safety. A better understanding of the relationship between microgravity and perception of visual stimuli might contribute to the development of countermeasures with the potential to mitigate significant error and costs. This project seeks to probe the matter by investigating the effect of microgravity on subjects’ perception of ambiguous two- and three-dimensional images. Following ground-based pre-training and 3 preflight sessions, subjects aboard the ISS will be shown a series of ambiguous images using a laptop running a custom-scripted program. The 6 crewmembers will participate in 6 inflight trials each, with all 10 figures tested twice per session. 3 postflight trials will be conducted on return to Earth. Inversions between perceptions will be recorded subjectively with the use of a finger mouse and data transmitted back to Earth for analysis. Subjects will communicate which image they saw first and any subsequent changes in image perception. The primary metrics will include number and rate of reversals. Data will be compared across pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight conditions. The premise of this experiment has been supported by parabolic trials conducted using the UPC (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona Tech) Reduced Gravity Platform in Barcelona, Spain, which made use of a CAP-10B acrobatic plane to simulate the microgravity of space. We hypothesize that, compared to baseline trials in 1g, there will be a decreased rate of reversal between image precepts in microgravity. This result would further emphasize the importance of gravity in the integration of various sensory inputs to generate a perception of three-dimensional space. While comprehension of the mechanisms underlying higher order integration and perception is still fairly nascent, this research represents an early step in developing an understanding of human perception and the impact of microgravity that might one day contribute to the development of flight training software and countermeasures for space habitation to reduce the frequency of errors resulting from misinterpretation of visual stimuli.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)