Responsible Center: NASA JSC
Grant Monitor: Williams, Thomas
Center Contact: 281-483-8773 thomas.j.will1@nasa.gov
Unique ID: 9398
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Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research
Grant/Contract No.: Directed Research
Project Type: FLIGHT
Flight Program: ISS
TechPort: No |
No. of Post Docs: 0
No. of PhD Candidates: 0
No. of Master's Candidates: 0
No. of Bachelor's Candidates: 0
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No. of PhD Degrees: 1
No. of Master's Degrees: 0
No. of Bachelor's Degrees: 0
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Human Research Program Elements: |
(1) HFBP:Human Factors & Behavioral Performance (IRP Rev H)
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Human Research Program Risks: |
(1) BMed:Risk of Adverse Cognitive or Behavioral Conditions and Psychiatric Disorders (2) HSIA:Risk of Adverse Outcomes Due to Inadequate Human Systems Integration Architecture (3) Sensorimotor:Risk of Altered Sensorimotor/Vestibular Function Impacting Critical Mission Tasks
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Human Research Program Gaps: |
(1) BMed-101:We need to identify, quantify, and validate the key selection factors for astronaut cognitive and behavioral strengths (e.g., resiliency) and operationally-relevant performance threats for increasingly Earth independent, long-duration, autonomous, and/or long-distance exploration missions. (2) BMed-108:Given each crewmember will experience multiple spaceflight hazards simultaneously, we need to identify and characterize the potential additive, antagonistic, or synergistic impacts of multiple stressors (e.g., space radiation, altered gravity, isolation, altered immune, altered sleep) on crew health and/or CNS/ cognitive functioning to develop threshold limits and validate countermeasures for any identified adverse crew health and/or operationally-relevant performance outcomes. (3) HSIA-801:Given each crewmember will experience multiple spaceflight hazards (e.g. radiation, isolation and confinement, altered gravity), we need to evaluate and identify how HSI can further characterize and/or mitigate additive and/or synergistic effects of the spaceflight environment, for increasingly earth-independent, future exploration missions (including in-mission and at landing). (4) SM-102:Characterize the effects of short and long-duration weightlessness, with and without deep-space radiation, on manual control (fine motor control) after G transitions.
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Flight Assignment/Project Notes: |
ISS
NOTE: End date changed to 9/30/2018 per E. Connell (JSC HRP)--Ed., 6/25/18
NOTE: Element change to Human Factors & Behavioral Performance; previously Space Human Factors & Habitability (Ed., 1/19/17)
NOTE: End date changed to 6/29/2018 per E. Connell/M. Whitmore (JSC HRP)--Ed., 1/21/16
NOTE: Change in title to "Effects of Long-duration Microgravity on Fine Motor Control Skills" from "Effects of Long-duration Microgravity on Fine Motor Skills: 1-year ISS Investigation" per E. Connell/SHFH HRP (Ed., 8/19/15)
NOTE: Risk/Gaps per E. Connell/HRP (Ed., 3/20/14)
NOTE: Start date changed to 10/1/13 (from 6/25/13) per M. Whitmore/JSC (Ed., 2/24/14) |
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Task Description: |
Fine motor skills will be critical during long-duration space missions, particularly those skills needed to interact with new technologies required for autonomous operations in next-generation space vehicles, spacesuits, and habitats. Few, arguably no, studies have been completed to investigate this type of functional fine motor performance in microgravity. There has also not been a complete, systematic study of fine motor performance to include different phases of microgravity adaptation, long-term microgravity, and the sensorimotor recovery period after transition to Earth gravity (post landing). In addition, the studies conducted to date have not been conclusive regarding the effects of microgravity on fine motor control.
The opportunity to systematically collect fine motor performance data throughout a long-duration mission is of great value. It will add to our knowledge base and provide a vastly improved capability to judge the risk of performance decrements due to long-duration microgravity. The proposed investigation will also provide an additional measure of functional performance post-flight, and a new functional test in-flight. These data will contribute to closure of several research gaps and may drive in-flight mitigations and/or design decisions for future vehicles/habitats.
Specific Aims:
Aim 1: Determine the effects of long-duration microgravity on fine motor performance.
• How does fine motor performance in microgravity trend/vary over the duration of a six-month, and year-long space mission?
• How does fine motor performance on orbit compare with that of a closely matched subject on Earth?
Aim 2: Determine the effects of different gravitational transitions on fine motor performance.
• How does performance trend/vary before and after gravitational transitions, including the periods of early flight adaptation, and very early/near immediate post-flight periods? |
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Rationale for HRP Directed Research: |
This research is directed due to a time constraint. This proposal focuses on the research opportunity afforded by the 2015 year-long mission of two crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS). |
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Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The Fine Motor Skills test battery software was released for public use through the NASA Technical Reporting process, and the app will soon be available on the Apple app store. The test battery can be used to measure fine motor decrements in elderly or diseased populations. The software may also prove beneficial in rehabilitation of fine motor skills in elderly patients, people with motor disorders, and patients with brain injuries.
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