Clinical Trial: Countermeasures to Reduce Sensorimotor Impairment and Space Motion Sickness Resulting From Altered Gravity Levels

Study Status: Suspended
Recruit Status: Suspended
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Countermeasures to Reduce Sensorimotor Impairment and Space Motion Sickness Resulting From Altered Gravity Levels

Brief Summary: The investigators will study adaptation of motion perception and manual control in altered gravity, including the effects of a drug (promethazine). The investigators will also study whether promethazine affects motion perceptual thresholds.

Detailed Summary: Adaptation to altered gravity has been of concern from the earliest reports of space motion sickness, through the Apollo exploration era, and into current planning of exploration missions. The proposed research program takes a new approach which could lead to an effective, practical and acceptable protocol for preadapting astronauts to space flight. By using the gravito-inertial alterations possible with centrifugation in different body orientations the investigators will quantify an individual's sensory adaptation capability and use it to predict and to minimize the consequences of movement in any other gravity environment - eventually including weightlessness. The investigators will also study whether a drug (promethazine) affects motion perception and motion sickness.
Sponsor: [email protected]

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Rate of recovery of roll tilt perception/manual control errors after exposure to hypergravity [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Yaw perceptual motion threshold, placebo [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Yaw perceptual motion threshold, promethazine [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Roll perceptual motion threshold, placebo [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Roll perceptual motion threshold, promethazine [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Interaural perceptual motion threshold, placebo [ Time Frame: 1 session ]
  • Interaural perceptual motion threshold, promethazine [ Time Frame: 1 session ]


Original Primary Outcome: Rate of recovery of roll tilt perception errors after exposure to hypergravity [ Time Frame: 4 days ]

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Dates:
Date Received: April 30, 2014
Date Started: June 2014
Date Completion: July 2017
Last Updated: March 24, 2017
Last Verified: March 2017