European Isolation and Confinement Study (Volume 3) (Advances in Space Biology and Medicine, Volume 3)

This third volume in the series, __Advances in Space Biology and Medicine__, is a special volume dedicated entirely to the results of the first European study of the effects of long-term confinement and isolation. The project was sponsored by the European Space Agency's Long-Term Program Office, Directorate of Space Station and microgravity, in preparation for its long-term manned space missions, the first of which will be its participation in __Space Station Freedom__ through the __Columbus__ program. The project was called the Isolation Study for European Manned Space Infrastructures, abbreviated ISEMSI. It was executed in the hyperbaric chamber facility of the Norwegian Underwater Technology Center (NUTEC), Bergen, Norway in September/October 1990. Six carefully selected men, called the EMSInauts, were confined in the chamber for a period of 28 days. The isolation period was preceded by a training period of two weeks, the pre-isolation period, during which baseline data on the subjects were obtained. It was followed by a recovery period, the post-isolation period, during which further tests were performed outside the chamber. The primary aim of ISEMSI was to obtain information on the psychological and physiological effects of long-term isolation and confinement of a small crew group under conditions similar to those that may be expected to exist for a space station crew. The simulation was designed to be as realistic as possible, except for the absence of weightlessness. This implied that the EMSInauts were given a considerable workload of tasks to be performed each day of the experimental period. The workload consisted of questionnaires and tests of a psychological and physiological nature, of housekeeping duties, and of additional space-related experiments. The nature and the results of their activities are described in thirteen chapters of this volume. In addition there is an introductory chapter by the head of the Long-Term Program Office, ESA, and chapters about Russian and American isolation studies of a similar nature. Together this material should offer the reader a rather comprehensive view of the psychophysiological aspects of the confinement and isolation inherent in long-term space missions; missions which may be expected to become common-place in decades ahead. The list of contents indicates the wide range of topics studied: group functioning and communication; spatial behavior; workload and stress; mental performance; cognitive fatigue; attention; sleep quality; and physiological aspects, such as water and salt turnover, cardiac function, hormones and electrolytes, orthostatic function, and immune function. The additional experiments cover important topics such as telemedical treatment, telescience, and microbial and chemical contamination monitoring.The results of this study and further studies of this nature should not only benefit future astronauts and help those who are organizing long-term manned space missions, but should also be useful to investigators who are planning crew-operated experiments to be carried out during such missions. This third volume in the series, Advances in Space Biology and Medicine , is a special volume dedicated entirely to the results of the first European study of the effects of long-term confinement and isolation. The project was sponsored by the European Space Agency's Long-Term Program Office, Directorate of Space Station and microgravity, in preparation for its long-term manned space missions, the first of which will be its participation in Space Station Freedom through the Columbus program. The project was called the Isolation Study for European Manned Space Infrastructures, abbreviated ISEMSI. It was executed in the hyperbaric chamber facility of the Norwegian Underwater Technology Center (NUTEC), Bergen, Norway in September/October 1990. Six carefully selected men, called the EMSInauts, were confined in the chamber for a period of 28 days. The isolation period was preceded by a training period of two weeks, the pre-isolation period, during which baseline data on the subjects were obtained. It was followed by a recovery period, the post-isolation period, during which further tests were performed outside the chamber. The primary aim of ISEMSI was to obtain information on the psychological and physiological effects of long-term isolation and confinement of a small crew group under conditions similar to those that may be expected to exist for a space station crew. The simulation was designed to be as realistic as possible, except for the absence of weightlessness. This implied that the EMSInauts were given a considerable workload of tasks to be performed each day of the experimental period. The workload consisted of questionnaires and tests of a psychological and physiological nature, of housekeeping duties, and of additional space-related experiments. The nature and the results of their activities are described in thirteen chapters of this volume. In addition there is an introductory chapter by the head of the Long-Term Program Office, ESA, and chapters about Russian and American isolation studies of a similar nature. Together this material should offer the reader a rather comprehensive view of the psychophysiological aspects of the confinement and isolation inherent in long-term space missions; missions which may be expected to become common-place in decades ahead. The list of contents indicates the wide range of topics studied: group functioning and communication; spatial behavior; workload and stress; mental performance; cognitive fatigue; attention; sleep quality; and physiological aspects, such as water and salt turnover, cardiac function, hormones and electrolytes, orthostatic function, and immune function. The additional experiments cover important topics such as telemedical treatment, telescience, and microbial and chemical contamination monitoring. The results of this study and further studies of this nature should not only benefit future astronauts and help those who are organizing long-term manned space missions, but should also be useful to investigators who are planning crew-operated experiments to be carried out during such missions. Content: Edited by Page iii Copyright page Page iv List of Contributors Pages ix-xii Introduction to Volume 3 Pages xiii-xiv Sjoerd L. Bonting Chapter 1 The First European Simulation of a Long-Duration Manned Space Mission Original Research Article Pages 1-4 J. Collet Chapter 2 Soviet Psychophysiological Investigations Of Simulated Isolation: Some Results And Prospects Original Research Article Pages 5-14 Vadim I. Gushin, Sergey F. Kholin, Yuri R. Ivanovsky Chapter 3 Nasa Investigations Of Isolated And Confined Environments Original Research Article Pages 15-21 Albert W. Holland Chapter 4 Isemsi: Aspace Psychology Experiment Original Research Article Pages 23-34 Holger Ursin Chapter 5 General Description Of Isemsi: Technical Scenario, Selection Of Candidates, Operational Aspects, And Organization Original Research Article Pages 35-58 Ragnar J. Værnes, Alf Schønhardt, Harald Sundland, Einar Thorsen Chapter 6 Group Functioning And Communication Original Research Article Pages 59-80 Tone Bergan, Gro Sandal, Marit Warncke, Holger Ursin, Ragnar J. Værnes Chapter 7 Ethological Analysis of Spatial Behavior Original Research Article Pages 81-94 Carole Tafforin Chapter 8 Workload and Stress: Effects On Psychosomatic And Psychobiological Reaction Patterns Original Research Article Pages 95-120 Ragnar J. Værnes, Tone Bergan, Marit Warncke, Holger Ursin, Asbjørn Aakvaag, Robert Hockey Chapter 9 Mental Performance Original Research Article Pages 121-137 Ragnar J. Værnes, Tone Bergan, Anne Lindrup, Dag Hammerborg, Marit Warncke Chapter 10 Cognitive Fatigue In Complex Decision-Making Original Research Article Pages 139-150 G.R.J. Hockey, M. Wiethoff Chapter 11 Attention During Isolation And Confinement Original Research Article Pages 151-162 Giacomo Rizzolatti, Andrea Peru Chapter 12 Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm Of Rest/Activity And Sleep/Wakefulness: Comparison Of Subjective And Objective Measures Original Research Article Pages 163-183 Irene Tobler, Alexander A. Borbély Chapter 13 Water and Salt Turnover Original Research Article Pages 185-200 H.C. Gunga, A. Maillet, K. Kirsch, L. Röcker, C. Gharib, R. Værnes Chapter 14 Blood Pressure, Volume-Regulating Hormones, and Electrolytes Original Research Article Pages 201-219 A. Maillet, G. Gauquelin, H.C. Gunga, J. Collet, J.M. Cottet-Emard, A.M. Allevard, J.O. Fortrat, R. Cartier, B. Claustrat, Ch. A. Bizollon, A. Hope, L. Peyrin, K. Kirsch, A. Güell, C. Gharib Chapter 15 Lower Body Negative Pressure Tests Original Research Article Pages 221-227 Antonio Güell, Alain Maillet, Marie-Monique Faurat, Anne Pavy-Le Traon, Pascale Vasseur Chapter 16 Confinement and Immune Function Original Research Article Pages 229-235 Didier A. Schmitt, Laurence Schaffar Chapter 17 Additional Experiments Original Research Article Pages 237-261 M. Novara Index Pages 263-273