Physical Hazards of Space Exploration and the Biological Bases of Behavioral Health and Performance in Extreme Environments

Schorn, Julia M.; Roma, Peter G.

doi:10.1201/9780429440878-1

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…This is not surprising since we know that the body undergoes significant adaptation when transitioning to microgravity, after launch. In this early adaptation period, there is some degree of space sickness, and new skills to learn: how to move, how to stop, and how to remain still to perform tasks (Schorn & Roma, 2021). The present results demonstrate that the initial gravitational transition disrupts fine motor performance as well; but once crew adapt, their performance stabilizes and likely improves across the flight portion of the mission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They will face isolation, confinement, a closed environment, space radiation, and long-duration microgravity. We know that the human body is impacted by the deleterious effects of spaceflight, and International Space Station (ISS) research over the last 20 years has led to a basic understanding of these effects, as well as the efficacy of mitigations (Schorn & Roma, 2021). One lesser studied area of spaceflight performance is fine motor skills.…”

Section: Precismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Long-duration Microgravity and Gravitational Transitions on Fine Motor Skills

et al. 2022

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Objective Assess the effects of long-duration microgravity and gravitational transitions on fine motor skills using a tablet-based test battery of four fine motor tasks: Pointing, Dragging, Shape Tracing, and Pinch-Rotate. Background While there have been some studies on fine motor skills in microgravity, few have measured the fine motor skills that are core components of interaction with computer-based devices, and none have measured performance systematically, to include preflight, inflight, and postflight space mission time periods. Methods Seven astronauts completed the Fine Motor Skills test battery 30–40 times before, during, and up to 30 days after standard duration International Space Station missions, while a matching set of seven ground-based control participants also completed the battery over a comparable period of time. Response time and accuracy were the primary outcome measures. Results Relative to controls, astronauts experienced fine motor skill decrements at gravitational transitions (first week on orbit, and first month post landing). No decrements were found inflight after the first week of adaptation. Conclusion Gravitational transitions appear to negatively impact fine motor skills needed to operate small controls with accuracy, such as those on touchscreen interfaces. This raises concerns for future long-duration crewmembers who will land on a planetary surface and need to perform critical tasks accurately, such as configuring spacesuits, powering up a habitat, or teleoperating rovers. Application Results from this study highlight the need for confirmatory research, and the possible need for countermeasure development. The Fine Motor Skills test battery may have application outside of NASA as a fine motor skills diagnostic screening, rehabilitation, or readiness-to-perform tool.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Precismentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Long-duration Microgravity and Gravitational Transitions on Fine Motor Skills

et al. 2022

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“…Conceivably, interpersonal interactions between isolated and confined crewmembers during non-work times may affect team cohesion and, ultimately, team and task performance and mission success. Isolation and confinement are also highly stressful ( Schorn and Roma, 2021 ), potentially causing more negative moods and putting pressure on interpersonal relationships. Extended durations in such conditions also add a dose effect such that these deleterious effects increase over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When people start getting real: The Group Living Skills Survey for extreme work environments

Landon,

Miller,

Bell

et al. 2024

Front. Psychol.

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IntroductionGroup living skills (GLS), that is, being tidy and considerate of others, are an important skillset for teams who live and work together. However, this construct does not have a validated measure to enable an understanding of how group living skills influence team dynamics over time. We developed and validated a short measure of group living skills for teams living in extreme work environments.MethodsWe collected data from 83 individuals in 24 teams living and working in space and spaceflight analog environments on missions of 45–240 days.ResultsWe provide evidence of reliability and validity for the GLS Survey over time and identify a two-factor structure. We also demonstrate its use as a measure of team-level dynamics and its utility as a sociometric measure to identify a person’s degree of group living skills.DiscussionWe outline recommendations for using this new measure in future research and applied settings to understand this unique aspect of teams living and working together.

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“…Operational environments are often characterized by extreme isolation and confinement, which can have deleterious effects on the brain, body, and behavioral health and performance (BHP) (Clément et al, 2020; Fraser, 1966; Schorn & Roma, 2020; Shobe et al, 2003). To understand and mitigate these effects, designers seek to use evidence-based decision-making related to how humans interact with the environment to live and work in space.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Subjective Habitability & Acceptability Questionnaire (SHAQ): Development and Validation

et al. 2022

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Objective Describe the development and validation of the Subjective Habitability & Acceptability Questionnaire (SHAQ). Background Habitat area size, layout, and design may impact individual and team behavioral health and performance (BHP) outcomes in operational environments. However, there are no standardized measures of these relationships. Method SHAQ is a modular survey consisting of two 6-item scales: BHP Outcomes ( Performance of Individual Activities, Performance of Group Activities, Mood, Psychological Stress, Sleep, and Social Interactions) and Habitability Moderators ( Privacy, Social Density, Efficiency, Control, Comfort, and Convenience). We collected SHAQ data from NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) crews ( n = 19) in reference to multiple habitat areas (Sleep/Bedroom, Hygiene/Bathroom, Work/Office/Workshop, and Food Preparation/Kitchen/Galley) in the HERA operational environment, private hotel rooms, and individual home habitats. Results SHAQ has high construct validity (single factor solutions, mean item factor loading = 0.760, mean % variance = 60.37), internal consistency and reliability (item mean α = 0.880, mean ω=0.894, mean ICC = 0.430), concurrent validity (mean item r with System Usability Scale = 0.42), and discriminant validity (e.g., significantly higher facilitation of group activities in HERA Work/Office/Workshop and Food Preparation/Kitchen/Galley areas vs. Hygiene/Bathroom and Sleep/Bedroom areas; significantly higher ratings of privacy, comfort, and convenience in hotel vs. HERA). Conclusion SHAQ is a reliable, valid, and sensitive measure of BHP impacts of habitat size and layout. Application SHAQ can be used to inform evidence-based recommendations and thresholds for habitat area size, layout, and design options to support individual and team BHP in operational environments.

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Physical Hazards of Space Exploration and the Biological Bases of Behavioral Health and Performance in Extreme Environments

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Effects of Long-duration Microgravity and Gravitational Transitions on Fine Motor Skills

Effects of Long-duration Microgravity and Gravitational Transitions on Fine Motor Skills

When people start getting real: The Group Living Skills Survey for extreme work environments

The Subjective Habitability & Acceptability Questionnaire (SHAQ): Development and Validation

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