Developing Physiologic Models for Emergency Medical Procedures Under Microgravity

NASA Tech Briefs, September 2012 as mechanical noise to the soles of the feet, or when applied as electrical noise at the knee and to the back muscles. SR using imperceptible stochastic electrical stimulation of the vestibular system (stochastic vestibular stimulation, SVS) applied to normal subjects has shown to improve the degree of association between the weak input periodic signals introduced via venous blood pressure receptors and the heart-rate responses. Also, application of SVS over 24 hours improves the long-term heart-rate dynamics and motor responsiveness as indicated by daytime trunk activity measurements in patients with multi-system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, or both, including patients who were un responsive to standard therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies conducted at the NASA JSC Neurosciences Laboratories showed that imperceptible SVS, when applied to normal, young, healthy subjects, leads to significantly improved balance performance during postural disturbances on unstable compliant surfaces. These studies have shown the benefit of SR noise characteristic optimization with imperceptible SVS in the frequency range of 0–30 Hz, and amplitudes of stimulation have ranged from 100 to 400 microamperes. This work was done by Jacob Bloomberg and Millard Reschke of Johnson Space Center; Ajitkumar Mulavara and Scott Wood of USRA; Jorge Serrador of Dept. of Veterans Affairs NJ Healthcare System; Matthew Fiedler, Igor Kofman, and Brian T. Peters of Wyle; and Helen Cohen of Baylor College. For further information, contact the JSC Innovation Partnerships Office at (281) 483-3809. MSC-25013-1