Habitat – NSBRI http://nsbri.org National Space Biomedical Research Institute Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:57:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.9 Blue Light for Enhancing Alertness in Space Missions http://nsbri.org/researches/blue-light-for-enhancing-alertness-in-space-missions/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:54 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/blue-light-for-enhancing-alertness-in-space-missions/ Astronauts must be at their best during a spaceflight. Changing shifts, extended duty hours and other factors can disrupt sleep and lead to a decrease in alertness and concentration, which could seriously impact mission safety and operations. Studies show that light treatment can correct similar impairments that occur with shift work, jet lag and sleep […]

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]]> Astronauts must be at their best during a spaceflight. Changing shifts, extended duty hours and other factors can disrupt sleep and lead to a decrease in alertness and concentration, which could seriously impact mission safety and operations. Studies show that light treatment can correct similar impairments that occur with shift work, jet lag and sleep disorders. Dr. George C. Brainard is leading a project to test solid-state blue light for use as a countermeasure to enhance alertness during spaceflight. Using human volunteers, Brainard will study the effectiveness of this blue, solid-state light source for possible use in the International Space Station as well as vehicles and habitats being developed for future space missions. The results could also prove beneficial to ground spaceflight personnel and workers in other industries such as medical care, manufacturing and homeland security.

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]]> Evaluation of Photic Countermeasures for Circadian Entrainment of Neurobehavioral Performance and Sleep-Wake Regulation Before and During Spaceflight http://nsbri.org/researches/evaluation-of-photic-countermeasures-for-circadian-entrainment-of-neurobehavioral-performance-and-sleep-wake-regulation-before-and-during-spaceflight/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:48 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/evaluation-of-photic-countermeasures-for-circadian-entrainment-of-neurobehavioral-performance-and-sleep-wake-regulation-before-and-during-spaceflight/ Bright light is currently used to synchronize crew members’ sleep-wake schedules with variable launch times. However, bright light is unavailable during missions. Recent studies have revealed that shorter wavelength light is effective for sleep cycle phase shifting and for enhancing of alertness and performance. So Dr. Charles A. Czeisler and colleagues have shown that short-wavelength […]

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]]> Bright light is currently used to synchronize crew members’ sleep-wake schedules with variable launch times. However, bright light is unavailable during missions. Recent studies have revealed that shorter wavelength light is effective for sleep cycle phase shifting and for enhancing of alertness and performance.

So Dr. Charles A. Czeisler and colleagues have shown that short-wavelength light in the blue/green range facilitates circadian phase shifts. This project will test the efficacy of exposure to short-wavelength light for pre-launch and in-flight phase shifting. During eight-day ground-based simulations, researchers will shift participants’ sleep-wake schedules by eight hours. Participants will randomly be placed in groups that receive exposure to either ordinary indoor white light or green light. Participants in each lighting category will be randomly selected to experience either a “gradual” shift or a “slam” shift.

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]]> Circadian Entrainment, Sleep-Wake Regulation and Performance During Spaceflight http://nsbri.org/researches/circadian-entrainment-sleep-wake-regulation-and-performance-during-spaceflight/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:48 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/circadian-entrainment-sleep-wake-regulation-and-performance-during-spaceflight/ If astronauts participate in exploration missions to Mars, their performance will be critically dependent on their ability to adapt to Mars’ 24.65-hour day. Dr. Charles A. Czeisler hypothesizes that the longer day will cause the body to produce the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin during the waking day, impairing alertness and performance. He is evaluating whether two […]

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]]> If astronauts participate in exploration missions to Mars, their performance will be critically dependent on their ability to adapt to Mars’ 24.65-hour day. Dr. Charles A. Czeisler hypothesizes that the longer day will cause the body to produce the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin during the waking day, impairing alertness and performance. He is evaluating whether two exposures to evening bright light each day will regulate the release of melatonin, helping the body adapt to the longer days.

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]]> Operational Evaluation of a Photic Countermeasure to Improve Alertness, Performance, and Mood During Night-Shift Work on the 105-Day Study (105-Day Russian Chamber Study) http://nsbri.org/researches/operational-evaluation-of-a-photic-countermeasure-to-improve-alertness-performance-and-mood-during-night-shift-work-on-the-105-day-study-105-day-russian-chamber-study/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:48 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/operational-evaluation-of-a-photic-countermeasure-to-improve-alertness-performance-and-mood-during-night-shift-work-on-the-105-day-study-105-day-russian-chamber-study/ Long-duration space missions often require long work hours and shifting sleep schedules for astronauts and flight controllers, resulting in decreased alertness and performance. Dr. Charles A. Czeisler is leading a project looking at the use of a lighting countermeasure to improve alertness and performance during night-shift work on long-duration missions. The researchers collected data during […]

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]]> Long-duration space missions often require long work hours and shifting sleep schedules for astronauts and flight controllers, resulting in decreased alertness and performance. Dr. Charles A. Czeisler is leading a project looking at the use of a lighting countermeasure to improve alertness and performance during night-shift work on long-duration missions. The researchers collected data during a 105-day isolation study in Russia, in which crew members worked a night shift every fifth night and controllers worked 24-hour shifts.

The data will be used to determine the feasibility of monitoring sleep and circadian rhythms and to test the effects of sudden sleep schedule shifts. The researchers are testing the hypothesis that shorter wavelength light will be more beneficial to crew members than intermediate and longer wavelength light. Czeisler and colleagues are also testing the hypotheses that the last third of a 24-hour shift is when controller performance is reduced the most and that shorter wavelength light will be a better countermeasure to mitigate performance reduction during a 24-hour shift.

If lighting proves to be an effective countermeasure, it will reduce the need for pharmaceutical interventions, which could have negative side effects that impact mission operations.

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]]> Circadian Rhythms in the Martian Environment http://nsbri.org/researches/circadian-rhythms-in-the-martian-environment/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:48 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/circadian-rhythms-in-the-martian-environment/ Human physiology and behavior are precisely regulated to the Earth’s light intensity, day length and gravitational pull. Astronauts can be adversely affected by space’s dissimilar environment. Dr. Charles A. Fuller is examining primates’ circadian responses under exposure to the simulated light spectrum and day length of Mars, and in altered gravity. He will also determine […]

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]]> Human physiology and behavior are precisely regulated to the Earth’s light intensity, day length and gravitational pull. Astronauts can be adversely affected by space’s dissimilar environment. Dr. Charles A. Fuller is examining primates’ circadian responses under exposure to the simulated light spectrum and day length of Mars, and in altered gravity. He will also determine whether timed light pulses will help the primates adapt to the Martian environment.

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]]> Thermal Control During Astronaut Traverses http://nsbri.org/researches/thermal-control-during-astronaut-traverses/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:52:54 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/thermal-control-during-astronaut-traverses/ Astronauts will be required to conduct a number of difficult extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the surface of the moon to carry out exploration missions and to build a lunar base. These moonwalks, which will likely require the use of vehicles and robotics, will be complicated and have limited resources, such as oxygen, electricity and water, […]

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]]> Astronauts will be required to conduct a number of difficult extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the surface of the moon to carry out exploration missions and to build a lunar base. These moonwalks, which will likely require the use of vehicles and robotics, will be complicated and have limited resources, such as oxygen, electricity and water, at the astronauts disposal.

In order to insure crew safety and improve efficiency, Dr. Jeffrey A. Hoffman and colleagues have developed the Mission Planner, a navigation tool to aid in the planning and real-time execution of lunar EVAs. The Mission Planner uses an algorithm to calculate the most efficient path between EVA locations based on an astronauts metabolic rate.

This project’s goal is to improve the Mission Planner’s ability by to calculate thermal constraints on the lunar surface, which will allow the modeling of thermal stress astronauts will endure during EVAs and during travel in pressurized rovers.

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]]> Ultra-Short Light Pulses as Efficient Countermeasures for Circadian Misalignment and Objective Performance and Subjective Alertness Decrements http://nsbri.org/researches/ultra-short-light-pulses-as-efficient-countermeasures-for-circadian-misalignment-and-objective-performance-and-subjective-alertness-decrements/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:58:12 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/ultra-short-light-pulses-as-efficient-countermeasures-for-circadian-misalignment-and-objective-performance-and-subjective-alertness-decrements/ The post Ultra-Short Light Pulses as Efficient Countermeasures for Circadian Misalignment and Objective Performance and Subjective Alertness Decrements appeared first on NSBRI.

]]> The post Ultra-Short Light Pulses as Efficient Countermeasures for Circadian Misalignment and Objective Performance and Subjective Alertness Decrements appeared first on NSBRI.

]]> Characteristics of Light Exposure Necessary for Development of Optimal Countermeasures to Facilitate Circadian Adaptation and Enhance Alertness and Cognitive Performance in Space http://nsbri.org/researches/characteristics-of-light-exposure-necessary-for-development-of-optimal-countermeasures-to-facilitate-circadian-adaptation-and-enhance-alertness-and-cognitive-performance-in-space/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:53:10 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/characteristics-of-light-exposure-necessary-for-development-of-optimal-countermeasures-to-facilitate-circadian-adaptation-and-enhance-alertness-and-cognitive-performance-in-space/ During missions, the quickly changing light-dark cycles that astronauts experience in orbit affect the body’s natural circadian cycle, causing disturbed sleep and difficulty waking. Noise, the effects of microgravity and temperature can further exacerbate sleep problems, potentially resulting in cognitive deficits and fatigue-related accidents. Dr. Steven W. Lockley and colleagues are investigating the effectiveness of […]

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]]> During missions, the quickly changing light-dark cycles that astronauts experience in orbit affect the body’s natural circadian cycle, causing disturbed sleep and difficulty waking. Noise, the effects of microgravity and temperature can further exacerbate sleep problems, potentially resulting in cognitive deficits and fatigue-related accidents. Dr. Steven W. Lockley and colleagues are investigating the effectiveness of short-wavelength blue light exposure to phase-shift the circadian pacemaker, suppress melatonin and directly enhance alertness. The team is working to answer questions regarding the specific characteristics of the body’s sensitivity to blue light, and to test whether time of day or light intensity affect these light responses.

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]]> The ISS Dynamic Lighting Schedule: An In-Flight Lighting Countermeasure to Facilitate Circadian Adaptation, Improve Sleep and Enhance Alertness and Performance on the International Space Station http://nsbri.org/researches/the-iss-dynamic-lighting-schedule-an-in-flight-lighting-countermeasure-to-facilitate-circadian-adaptation-improve-sleep-and-enhance-alertness-and-performance-on-the-international-space-station/ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:58:12 +0000 http://nsbri.org/researches/the-iss-dynamic-lighting-schedule-an-in-flight-lighting-countermeasure-to-facilitate-circadian-adaptation-improve-sleep-and-enhance-alertness-and-performance-on-the-international-space-station/ The post The ISS Dynamic Lighting Schedule: An In-Flight Lighting Countermeasure to Facilitate Circadian Adaptation, Improve Sleep and Enhance Alertness and Performance on the International Space Station appeared first on NSBRI.

]]> The post The ISS Dynamic Lighting Schedule: An In-Flight Lighting Countermeasure to Facilitate Circadian Adaptation, Improve Sleep and Enhance Alertness and Performance on the International Space Station appeared first on NSBRI.

]]> Quantifying and Developing Countermeasures for the Effect of Fatigue-Related Stressors on Automation Use and Trust During Robotic Supervisory Control http://nsbri.org/researches/quantifying-and-developing-countermeasures-for-the-effect-of-fatigue-related-stressors-on-automation-use-and-trust-during-robotic-supervisory-control/ Wed, 27 Jan 2016 04:07:41 +0000 http://nsbri.org/?post_type=research&p=21378 This project will develop and test adaptive automation countermeasures for the effects of stressors such as sleep deprivation (SD) on human performance related to robotic tasks, and investigate the relationship between human trust and appropriate use of these countermeasures. It will produce a diverse set of technologies and techniques for NASA relevant to human exploration […]

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]]> This project will develop and test adaptive automation countermeasures for the effects of stressors such as sleep deprivation (SD) on human performance related to robotic tasks, and investigate the relationship between human trust and appropriate use of these countermeasures. It will produce a diverse set of technologies and techniques for NASA relevant to human exploration missions. It will prototype and evaluate technology adaptations for NASA and other users to prevent or compensate for the cognitive deficits arising from situational stressors like SD that can degrade human task performance. It will define new measures of trust that combine subjective assessment of attitude with objective measurements relating automation reliance and task outcome. It will use these measures to investigate the effects of SD on trust in automation. It will develop a testbed for supervisory control of robots that encapsulates a rich set of human problem solving and decision-making tasks and provides an environment for testing the effects of situational stressors like SD on human performance of these tasks.

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