Task Progress:
|
[Ed. note July 2019: Continuation of "Sensorimotor Predictors of Postlanding Functional Task Performance," with Principal Investigator (PI) Ajitkumar P. Mulavara, Ph.D., due to PI Mulavara becoming CBS Portfolio Scientist. New PI is Dr. Jacob Bloomberg]
During this task period, the laboratory test protocols were successfully implemented in the Johnson Space Center (JSC) Neuroscience Laboratory. Testing with the initial 6 subjects (PI Mulavara, National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) grant)) had been conducted in the previous lab location (Building 266) prior to the laboratory move to the current location in Building 21. Some changes were required to accommodate the available equipment (vestibular thresholds performed on the 6DOF Moog device instead of the Tilt-Translation Sled). This also required modifications to the 6DOF Moog platform to facilitate reconfiguration (seat to treadmill) within the same session. Finally, the protocol was streamlined to fit within 95 min window to make the desired International Space Station (ISS) subject enrollment more feasible. The enrollment criteria was also modified to include prior participation in Functional Task Test (FTT), Pilot Field Test (PFT), Field Test (FT), targeting 14 astronauts that previously did not respond + 6 new, and expanding the available subject pool to include 8 other astronauts that participated in dynamic posturography (specifically SOT-5 with head movements, MedB1.5) within R+1 days. This includes a total pool of 28 new possible subjects.
The final laboratory protocol includes three tests of sensory dependency (treadmill walking with moving visual scene, vestibular translation thresholds, proprioception by standing on horizontal air bearing surface), two adaptation tests (treadmill walking on 6DOF with moving visual scene, and obstacle course with reversing prisms), and genetic (saliva) sample. Neuroimaging test data collected prior to the subject’s previous ISS missions will be obtained through data sharing requests.
Following the completion of the test configuration and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, the safety Test Readiness Review was conducted in March 2019, and testing restarted in May. As of the end of September 2019, an additional four subjects were completed. No preliminary results were available as preliminary analysis was on hold pending further subject participation.
[Ed. note UPDATE April 2020: End date changed to 9/30/2019 (original end date 8/31/2020) due to Principal Investigator Bloomberg retiring; project continues with Scott Wood as PI--see that project for subsequent reporting--"Sensorimotor Predictors of Postlanding Functional Task Performance (PI=Wood)]
|