A research team at Moscow State University has developed a prototype galvanic vestibular stimulator designed to boost vestibular function for astronauts operating in zero gravity. The university’s press service shared this advancement with socialbites.ca, outlining how the device could influence spaceflight physiology and mission safety.
Microgravity and spaceflight profoundly affect the human circulatory system and the vestibular apparatus, which normally mature under the influence of Earth’s gravity. These shifts can lead to motion sickness in astronauts, presenting as fatigue, impaired sensitivity and coordination, and neuromuscular disturbances that can linger during long missions.
The central challenge is a vestibulo-sensory mismatch: information from the vestibular system clashes with signals from other gravity-sensitive receptors in the body, generating disorientation and impaired balance. The automatic galvanic vestibular stimulator (AGVS) prototype, created by a team led by Magomed Magomedov, a senior researcher in the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics at Moscow State University, aims to ease this mismatch. By modulating vestibular input, the device may improve how crews adapt to weightlessness and reduce the risk of vestibular disturbances during extended space operations.
Vladimir Aleksandrov, a co-author of the vestibular cell mathematical model and head of the department of applied mechanics and control in the same faculty, emphasizes that understanding vestibular dynamics in space is essential for safe and efficient long-duration exploration. His work points to how precise intervention can support astronauts in maintaining stable gaze and posture—critical for complex tasks in a microgravity environment.
Calculations from researchers at the Interfaculty Center for Virtual Reality at Moscow State University suggest that vestibular cells can operate as a two-state system. This insight supports the concept of galvanic stimulation to induce transitions between states, potentially aiding gaze stabilization during stimulation. The practical outcome could be smoother manual operations such as spacecraft docking and other high-precision control tasks where steady vision is vital. The implications extend to mission planning, where improved vestibular function could enhance overall performance and safety during critical phases of flight.
Although early in the research, findings indicate that quiet electrical currents might help the vestibular system adapt to microgravity. This approach could pave the way for new strategies to maintain spatial orientation, reduce the incidence of motion-related discomfort, and improve crew efficiency in demanding environments. The university’s press office, reporting to socialbites.ca, frames AGVS as a stepping stone toward more robust neuromodulation methods in space medicine.
In broader terms, the scientific community notes that gaining a clearer picture of vestibular responses in space will inform the development of countermeasures for long-duration missions. Such work could lead to safer, more reliable human exploration beyond Earth. Early results from the AGVS project reflect a growing interest in peripheral neuromodulation techniques that align vestibular input with artificial guidance cues, helping operators remain precise during operations in orbit where motion cues diverge from terrestrial expectations. These efforts demonstrate how targeted electrical stimulation could complement existing training and equipment, creating a more cohesive system for detecting and compensating for orientation errors in microgravity. (Source: Moscow State University press communications)