Developing and validating a virtual sensorimotor analog and countermeasure

We propose to improve the newly developed virtual reality (VR) sensorimotor analog and test a training procedure that will function as a sensorimotor countermeasure. This analog consists of VR system with altered visual feedback that mimics vestibular disorientation, along with galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) to effectively \u2018turn off' the vestibular system. The technology improvements would include (i) foveated shading and (ii) 3-D vection. Foveated shading requires integrated eye trackers, which can support pupillometry to measure attention deficit, mental fatigue, and stress. We hope to harness eye tracking for this purpose if given the opportunity to continue this study into a second year. Once these improvements are implemented, we will determine if the positive effects of training previously demonstrated can be sustained.\nAfter a year's funded work, the next step would be to test the efficacy of the training on crewmembers. This would involve training pre-flight and post-flight functional performance testing. Additionally, we propose to collaborate with the Human Factors and Behavioral Performance (HFBP) element to use this unique analog to quantify the added effect of disorientation on cognitive workload with both cutting-edge and traditional measures of cognitive and functional performance as well as stress. Extensive previous research demonstrates that when balance and coordination are compromised, cognitive resources are allocated to the priority of regaining and maintaining stability, which degrades performance on other secondary tasks, such as information processing and decision-making.

Field Test results, revealing astronaut functional performance within the first 24 hours after landing, show severe decrements in functional ability after 6 months in microgravity. With upcoming commercial and Orion water landings planned as soon as 2019 along with future lunar surface operations, it has never been more critical to improve sensorimotor performance and motion sickness following gravity transitions. This problem is compounded for lunar operations as the 1/6th Earth's gravity translates to 1/6th of the expected stimulation of the inner ear organ, making astronauts much less sensitive to their body's position on the lunar surface. This technology has the potential to impact two main groups of people. The first path involves implementing this tool in the astronaut population. We have a short time remaining on the ISS where we can test the efficacy of countermeasures. The Standard Measures study has been implemented to help determine the effect of said countermeasures. This virtual sensorimotor countermeasure could be operationally implemented by incorporating the training into ASCR trainings with very minimal overhead. The second group of people that may benefit from this technology would be patient populations suffering from vestibular disorders. This tool could be used in rehabilitation to aide patients in turning incorrect/disruptive vestibular information down and turning helpful proprioceptive and visual information up. This tool could be added to current vestibular rehabilitation routines and STMD could aide in providing funding to explore partnerships with local vestibular physicians. Human Architecture Team (HAT) 6.3.c-E has identified the need for biomedical countermeasures for long-duration spaceflight. One of the most critical, unresolved risks is sensorimotor deconditioning following gravity transitions. We aim to improve the newly developed virtual reality (VR) sensorimotor analog (developed with ICA 2017) and to create and test a training procedure that will collectively function as a sensorimotor countermeasure that can be used pre- and in flight to reduce the effect of sensorimotor deconditioning.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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