A research group from Moscow State University has developed a prototype galvanic vestibular stimulator that could significantly increase the vestibular function of astronauts in zero gravity conditions. The press service of Moscow State University reported this to socialbites.ca.
Space flight and the state of weightlessness have a significant impact on the human circulatory system and vestibular apparatus, which develop under the influence of gravity. These changes could cause “motion sickness” in astronauts. It is manifested by fatigue, impaired sensitivity and coordination, as well as neuromuscular disorders.
The main factor affecting the development of these disorders in the initial stage of flight is the vestibulo-sensory conflict associated with the discrepancy between information from the vestibular system and other receptors responsible for the feeling of gravity.
The prototype of the automatic galvanic vestibular stimulator (AGVS), developed by a group of engineers led by Magomedov Magomedov, a senior researcher at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of Moscow State University, can improve the adaptation of astronauts to conditions of weightlessness and reduce the risk of death. Risk of vestibular disturbance during long-term space excursions.
According to Vladimir Aleksandrov, co-author of the mathematical model of the vestibular cell, head of the department of applied mechanics and control at the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at Moscow State University, it is necessary to understand the operation of the vestibular apparatus in space for the safety and efficiency of long-term space missions.
Calculations by a team from the Interfaculty Center for Virtual Reality at Moscow State University showed that the vestibular cell (cells in the vestibular organs of the inner ear that serve as receptors that detect movements and accelerations of the head) can function as a two-state system. system. This fact makes it possible to use the galvanic effect (exposure to electric current) to transfer a cell from one state to another.
This correction potentially makes it possible to improve gaze stabilization during galvanic stimulation and create more comfortable conditions for operator activities in space, especially when manually controlling spacecraft docking and other systems.
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