Biomedical subjects

Y Matsakis

Publications and source records attributed to Y Matsakis.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1993

Effects of prolonged weightlessness on mental rotation of three-dimensional objects.

Previous experiments have suggested that the analysis of visual images could be a gravity-dependent process. We investigated this hypothesis using a mental rotation paradigm with pictures of three-dimensional objects during a 26-day orbital flight aboard the Soviet MIR station. The analysis of cosmonauts' response times showed that the mental rotation task is not greatly impaired in weightlessness. On the contrary, there are indications of a facilitation as: (1) the average rotation time per degree was shorter inflight than on the ground; (2) this difference seemed to be particularly marked for stimuli calling for roll axis rotations. However several factors may be responsible for this difference which was not obvious in one subject. Further experiments will have to test if this effect is really due to exposure to microgravity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Technical evolutions of the French multipurpose instruments for Cognitive Neurosciences.

Since the first French flight in space in 1982, the CNES has developed a wide range of instruments, especially in the field of Neurosciences. The design of these instruments has considerably evolved from rather simple equipment up to much more sophisticated tools that are being specially tailored for these missions. Four major phases can be identified: -a simple adaptation of an echographe leading to the first neurosciences experiments (the ARAGATZ'88 mission), -the ILLUSIONS and VIMINAL instruments used during the ANTARES'92 and ALTAIR'93 missions, -the COGNILAB instrument developed for the CASSIOPEE'96 mission, to be re-used in 1997 and in 1999, -a preliminary design of the 1999 mission payload, including virtual reality concepts, in a modular design to adapt to the European COF. Aside from the evolution of scientific requirements, the experience gained during the flights led to progressive improvements in the different technical parts, including visual system, body restraint systems, accessories, such as a force feedback joystick, computer and software, etc. This paper describes the technical evolutions in the CNES Neurosciences program.

Cognition↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The effect of weightlessness on sensorimotor interaction during operator activity: visual feedback. Motor response latency time].

During the second joint French-Soviet space mission efficiency of compensating tracking was investigated in operator by velocity. It was shown that in spite of considerable changes in proprioceptive feedbacks, performance quality remained essentially as preflight. This evidences that visual feedback during operational activity is apt to offset losses in proprioceptive feedbacks.

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