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Balancing Brains

Posted by timothy on from the we-need-balance dept.

Koyaanisqatsi writes "NASA researchers are learning more about the human brain by studying how astronauts regain their balance upon returning from space. Back home, an astronaut's brain no longer knows how to interpret what the senses tell it. The brain has to adapt to a zero gravity environment in space, then readjust back on Earth. The transition may bring on motion sickness. Ever wonder how your brain would react? (Full Story). Same article is also available via streaming audio or as a downloadable mp3 file."

14 comments

  1. reminds me of those commercials by the_other_one · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is your brain

    This is your brain on gravity

    Any questions?

    --
    134340: I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  2. Like riding a bike by Trane+Francks · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's interesting that our "like riding a bike" idiom that suggests we cannot forget how to do something is patentently false when we remove the organism from its native habitat. The article makes it pretty obvious that if we humans wish to engage in manned space exploration, we'll need artificial gravity in the ships if we've any chance of disembarking on a planet to check things out without tripping all over ourselves.

    The moon is one thing, but even Mars is a 3-year-flight away.

    --
    ...a FreeDOS contributor: http://www.freedos.org/
    1. Re:Like riding a bike by pythorlh · · Score: 4, Interesting
      The moon is one thing, but even Mars is a 3-year-flight away.

      Mars is only a 3 year flight if you go for a least-fuel cost route. Constant acceleration during the correct flight window brings that down to 2 weeks. And pretty much anything in between is possible.

      Not to nitpick, but this is a common misconception that is a building block for many arguments against Mars missions.

      --
      Do not confuse duty with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different.Duty is a debt you owe to yourself.
    2. Re:Like riding a bike by Trane+Francks · · Score: 3, Interesting
      Mars is only a 3 year flight if you go for a least-fuel cost route.
      A fair and reasonable rejoinder. I apologize if my statement came off as an absolute; it was not intended in that fashion. That said, the economics of space flight currently requires that we only carry enough fuel to get the job done. There's still very little margin for "wasteful" burns.
      Not to nitpick, but this is a common misconception that is a building block for many arguments against Mars missions.
      Again, a fair comment. :) As technology brings us ever more efficient fuels and engine designs, we may within our lifetime find an adequate solution to that enables us to approach such a mission based on least-time rather than least-cost. I don't expect that to happen within, say, the next ten years, however.

      trane
      --
      ...a FreeDOS contributor: http://www.freedos.org/
    3. Re:Like riding a bike by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It's interesting that our "like riding a bike" idiom that suggests we cannot forget how to do something is patentently false when we remove the organism from its native habitat.


      Funny, I've never interpreted the "riding a bike" to mean not-forgotten. To me it has alway meant that there are some neural connections that go more or less dormant and can be reactivated with appropriate stimulus. Case in point, the astronauts have trouble with re-adjusting to gravity, but they don't have as much trouble walking as a baby does in learning to walk.
  3. uploading a new kernel... by jki · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Somehow reading the article reminds me of the Neo's training period in the Matrix movie. If they actually can make the brains..

    "We know that astronauts are just on the verge of readapting to Earth in the 2 to 4 day time frame after short duration space flight. So we thought, why don't we go to day 3, when we think somebody is just about adapted, and see if we can cause the brain to switch states."

    shift states, would not the next thing to try to be able to create those states. Like fast-forwarding (as in FF>>) or uploading a scenario into the brains and balance control...

  4. Err.. yeah by doru · · Score: 2, Funny
    I thought this was yet another circus number.

    Nevermind...

  5. Spock's brain? by Fredbo · · Score: 1

    Brain and brain, what is brain?

  6. Obligatory "Terrestrial Benefits" clause by RobertB-DC · · Score: 2

    From the article:

    And for us on Earth? Paloski's work may help here, too. Ultimately his research is about making it easier to learn--and that's something we do every day of our lives.

    As usual, NASA is compelled to point out some way that space research will generate a tangible benefit on Earth. It's like a mantra: "Yes, we've spent billions, but look at all the space program spinoffs we use every day on Earth!"

    I wish that there were a way to harness the pure excitement of exploration, without having to make excuses. Of course, as seen elsewhere on Slashdot, you can only spend so many billions of dollars before folks start expecting results.

    Meanwhile, I'm rooting for Armadillo Aerospace and the other backyard hobbyists with deep pockets.

    --
    Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.