A resume of sessions on motion sickness
Neurological elements in vomiting sequence and components of emetic reflex in motion sickness
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Neurological elements in vomiting sequence and components of emetic reflex in motion sickness
L-sulpiride, at a dose of 4 mg/kg, essentially abolished motion- induced emesis in a group of 6 squirrel monkeys undergoing horizontal rotation at 25 rpm, a terrestrial model of space motion sickness (SMS). Extrapyramidal side effects were not observed. In the absence of the drug, the usual emetic response returned. In comparison while typical neuroleptics were also strongly anti-emetic, they produced a considerable degree of rigidity and akinesia.
Human motion sickness susceptibility when exposed to Coriolis accelerations during parabolic flight weightlessness
Less severe diagnosis for grading motion sickness susceptibility
Until Mar. 1989, no effective treatment--either prophylactic or symptomatic--for space motion sickness (SMS) had been discovered. Since Mar. 1989, intramuscular (IM) promethazine (PMZ) has been used in the treatment of SMS with extremely favorably results reported by the crew. A retrospective study was undertaken to quantify the efficacy of IM PMZ since its institution and the incidence of its major anticipated side-effect drowsiness and sedation. The results from a standardized crew medical debriefing conducted immediately after landing and follow-up interviews with the crews were used in establishing the efficacy and incidence of side effects from treatment. Only crews from the first 44 Shuttle flights on their first mission were considered. For a total of 132 crewmembers, 96 exhibited symptoms of SMS; and, of these, 20 were treated with IM PMZ. Ninety percent of those receiving IM PMZ 25-50mg received nearly immediate (less than 2 hours) relief of symptoms and 75 percent required no further treatment through the first 2 days of spaceflight. Those not receiving this treatment did not have any near-term resolution of their symptoms, and 50 percent were still ill through the second day of flight. This represents a significant difference at the p = 0.46 level. In stark contrast to the 60 percent to 73 percent incidence of sedation or drowsiness reported in individuals treated with PMZ in terrestrial environment at the doses used here, less than 5 percent reported these symptoms during spaceflight. IM PMZ is an effective therapy for SMS and is associated with minimal incidence of sedation or drowsiness. This combination of efficacy that is absent of significant side effects represents a substantial improvement in the operational situation of crewmembers afflicted with SMS. Studies to understand the mechanisms underlying these observations will be undertaken in the future.
Motion sickness habituation transfer on change in human body position between vertical and horizontal in rotating room simulating spacecraft environment
Peripheral afferent nerves, peripheral efferent nerves, and central structures as neural mechanisms of motion sickness
Preventing motion sickness in slow rotation room by incremental increases in strength of stimulus
A method for the alleviation of both motion sickness and chemically-induced emesis is provided which includes the administration of a nontoxic, therapeutically effective amount of a composition which stimulates serotonin-1A receptors in a mammal in need of such treatment. The preferred compounds for use are buspirone and 8-hydroxy-2(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT).
Human susceptibility to motion sickness under Coriolis acceleration during parabolic flight weightlessness
Conflicting sensory data relating to spatial orientation from visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems inducing motion sickness
Head movement role in motion sickness as function of angular velocity, discussing prediction of human tolerance in space station
Otolith organs as primary etiological factor in motion sickness
A comprehensive examination of cardiovascular autonomic response to motion sickness was studied and whether differences in cardiopulmonary function exist in high and low susceptibility groups were determined. Measurement techniques were developed as was test equipment for its ability to provide accurately new measures of interest and to test the adequately of these new measures in differentiating between susceptibility groups. It was concluded that these groups can be differentiated using simple, brief stressors and measurements of cardiodynamic function.
Twenty-four men were randomly assigned to four equal groups matched in terms of their Coriolis Sickness Susceptibility Index (CSSI). Two groups of subjects were highly susceptible to motion sickness, and two groups were moderately susceptible. All subjects were given six C551 tests at 5-d intervals. Treatment Groups I (highly susceptible) and II (moderately susceptible) were taught to control their autonomic responses, using a training method called autogenic-feedback training (AFT) before the third, fourth, and fifth CSSI tests. Control groups III (highly susceptible) and IV (moderately susceptible) received no treatment. Results showed that both treatment groups significantly improved performance on CSSI tests after training; neither of the control groups changed significantly. Highly and moderately susceptible subjects in the two treatment groups improved at comparable rates. Highly susceptible control group subjects did not habituate across tests as readily as the moderately susceptible controls.
Levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in cats under several motion-sickness-inducing conditions. Plasma AVP increased significantly in both susceptible and resistant animals exposed to motion. When vomiting occurred, levels of plasma AVP were drmatically elevated (up to 27 times resting levels). There was no difference in resting levels of AVP of susceptible and resistant cats. Levels of CSF-AVP were not elevated immediately after vomiting, but the testing levels of CSF-AVP were lower in animals that vomited during motion than in those animals which did not vomit during motion. The results of these experiments show that changes in systemic AVP are directly related to vomiting induced by motion, however, CSF-AVP apparently does not change in association with vomiting. CSF-AVP does appear to be lower in animals that reach frank vomiting during motion stimulation than in animals which do not vomit.
Human graviceptors, located in the trunk by Mittelstaedt probably transduce acceleration by abdominal viscera motion. As demonstrated previously in biodynamic vibration and impact tolerance research the thoraco-abdominal viscera exhibit a resonance at 4 to 6 Hz. Behavioral observations and mechanical models of otolith graviceptor response indicate a phase shift increasing with frequency between 0.01 and O.5 Hz. Consequently the potential exists for intermodality sensory conflict between vestibular and visceral graviceptor signals at least at the mechanical receptor level. The frequency range of this potential conflict corresponds with the primary frequency range for motion sickness incidence in transportation, in subjects rotated about Earth-horizontal axes (barbecue spit stimulation) and in periodic parabolic flight microgravity research and also for erroneous perception of vertical oscillations in helicopters. We discuss the implications of this hypothesis for previous self motion perception research and suggestions for various future studies.
Transfer of habituation of motion sickness on change in body position in rotating environments