PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S ) : Ashton M. Graybiel, and Earl F. Miller 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : Human Otolith Function, M009 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Gemini 5, 7 



CLASSIFICATION : Human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Neurosensory 



OBJECTIVES : To obtain information concerning human otolith function in 

 conjunction with exposure to orbital space flight. 



PROTOCOL : There was preflight testing of ocular counterrolling (CR) and 

 egocentric visual localization of the horizontal (EVLH) at 19 and 6 weeks 

 before flight. Both were tested inflight. During the tests, readings of 

 blood pressure, pulse rate, and electrocardiogram were made. 



EQUIPMENT : Onboard vision tester (a binocular instrument with an adjustable 

 interpupillary distance with no focusing adjustment). 



RESULTS : There were insignificant negative deviations of 10 degrees to 30 

 degrees from absolute horizontal for EVLH measurements. There was no change 

 in ocular counterrolling pre- to postflight with body tilt from -50 degrees to 

 + 50 degrees. 



CONCLUSIONS : There is no significant change in otolith sensitivity as a 

 result of space flight. A coordinate space sense exists even in 

 weightlessness if contact cues are adequate. 



PUBLICATIONS : 76, 80, 218, 219, 221, 223, 225, 399, 550 



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