GAZE-SPIN

Summary

The vestibular system enables a variety of functions ranging from gaze stabilization and postural control to orientation and navigation. Because of its partial dependency on Earth's gravity, this system is challenged in a microgravity environment experienced during spaceflight. With this project, we trigger the peripheral vestibular organ of cosmonauts by centrifugation and measure ocular responses which serve as a window into the vestibular organ's function. These tests are performed before cosmonauts go to space, three days after return from their mission and at least one extra follow-up time point up to 9 days after the mission.

Duration

2007 - present

Publications

• Decreased otolith-mediated vestibular response in 25 astronauts induced by long-duration spaceflight. (2016)

https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00065.2016?rfr_dat=cr_pub++0pubmed&url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org​

• Dysfunctional vestibular system causes a blood pressure drop in astronauts returning from space (2015)

https://www.nature.com/articles/srep17627​

• Validation of centrifugation as a countermeasure for otolith deconditioning during spaceflight: preliminary data of the ESA SPIN study. (2013)

https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vestibular-research/ves00469​