Inessa B Kozlovskaya

• M.D., Ph.D., corresponding member of the RAS, academician of IAA
• Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences

Long-duration astronauts (>4 months on the International Space Station, 87 total person-missions) participated in an orthostatic test consisting of 2 minutes of prone rest followed by 3.5 minutes of standing preflight, within hours of landing on the first day of recovery (R+0), and 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after landing. Astronauts and cosmonauts p...

Microgravity induces spinal elongation and Low Back Pain (LBP) but the pathophysiology is unknown. Changes in paraspinal muscle viscoelastic properties may play a role. Dry Immersion (DI) is a ground-based microgravity analogue that induces changes in m. erector spinae superficial myofascial tissue tone within 2 h. This study sought to determine wh...

The Tandem Walk is a standard sensorimotor test of dynamic postural stability [1, 2]. 19 Russian cosmonauts (mission duration of 159,8±19,5 days) have performed the Tandem Walk test: 60 and 30 days before the space flight (SF), during the first hour after landing and on the 3-4th, the 7-8th and the 12th days after SF. In the Tandem Walk test, the s...

It is known that space flights (SF) of different duration are followed sensory-motor alterations, such as locomotor disturbances. Exposure to weightlessness in the course of SF is connected tightly to physiological changes of vestibular function, the support deprivation, and a significant decline of the proprioceptive information density, which aff...

Having set a goal to study the dynamics of biomechanical and electromyographic parameters while cosmonauts perfom locomotions on treadmill during long space flights (SF), we proceed from the basic concept that motor disorders occupy an important place in the complex of disorders caused by microgravity, which are accompanied by a number of changes i...

The purpose of the study was to obtain quantitative data of alterations in the biomechanical characteristics of voluntary walking after long (mission duration 146±73 days) space flights. The work was carried out according to the program of the «Field Test» Russian- American space experiment. 5 Russian cosmonauts in the study performed the arbitrary...

The only experience of performing locomotions on the surface of space objects with a different level of gravity from the Earth revealed disorders of the coordination of movements and functional performance of astronauts (Johnston, R. S. et al., 1975). To date, there are no quantitative data that can be used to describe the mechanisms of motor disor...

In the 21-d dry immersion (DI) study MyotonPro (Estonia) and MusTone (Romania) were used to measure lateral stiffness of the back and leg muscles. Though the devices implement a similar operation principle, the outcomes of parallel measurements were different. Thus, the MusTone data showed a greater group variability. On DI day-21, MyotonPro regist...

The English version of the article is here > > > https://bit.ly/3tK9oNU < < < The paper reports the design and primary results of the unique IBMP-based 21-d Dry Immersion study with participation of 10 healthy male volunteers (mean age 29.3 ± 3.56 years). The study demonstrated the admissibility and safety of long-term exposure in immersion, veridi...

Full text in Russian is here >>> https://bit.ly/3s6G2Vc <<< ____ The method of electromyostimulation is diverse in its manifestation and is widespread in medicine and sports. One of the approaches to assessing the effectiveness of this method is a muscle tone study, because it is known that chronic electrical stimulation directly affects the chara...

The method of electromyostimulation is diverse in its manifestation and is widespread in medicine and sports. One of the approaches to assessing the effectiveness of this method is a muscle tone study, because it is known that chronic electrical stimulation directly affects the characteristics of the muscle, changing its strength, endurance, fiber...

For English version click here >>> https://bit.ly/3fYgQ0M <<< ___ Метод электромиостимуляции (ЭМС) многообразен в своем проявлении-от используемой часто-ты и амплитуды стимуляции до места ее применения-и широко распространен в медицине и спор-те. Одним из подходов к оценке эффективности этого метода является исследование мышечного то-нуса, т.к. и...

The aim of this work was to study the characteristics of transverse stiffness of the back and legs muscles for the first time during the first held 21-day Dry Immersion (DI) with two devices - MyotonPro (Estonia) and, in addition, as part of a pilot research session - with the MusTone device (Romania). The results of the study showed that the data...

Полный текст опубликованной статьи здесь >>> https://bit.ly/3xWpfsc <<<

Background The most applicable human models of weightlessness are −6° head-down bed rest (HDBR) and head-out dry immersion (DI). A detailed experimental comparison of cardiovascular responses in both models has not yet been carried out, in spite of numerous studies having been performed in each of the models separately. Objectives We compared chan...

The present study reports alterations of task-based functional brain connectivity in a group of 11 cosmonauts after a long-duration spaceflight, compared to a healthy control group not involved in the space program. To elicit the postural and locomotor sensorimotor mechanisms that are usually most significantly impaired when space travelers return...

The changes in muscle periphery activity, main sensory inputs and motor control system provides the development of locomotor functions alteration in cosmonauts after space flights (SF) of different duration. To define the contribution of different factors to locomotor disturbances development and the possibilities of their correction it was suggest...

Locomotor disturbances are a natural consequence of space flight (SF). The marked gait instability of the crew members is observed even after relatively short expeditions (from 72 hours to 16 days): at the same time, the walk remains unstudy, the legs are wide apart, the hands are spread, the body rolls from side to side in the tact of steps. Studi...

Dry immersion (DI) is one of the most widely used ground models of microgravity. DI accurately and rapidly reproduces most of physiological effects of short-term space flights. The model simulates such factors of space flight as lack of support, mechanical and axial unloading as well as physical inactivity. The current manuscript gathers the result...

While the effect of long-duration spaceflight has been extensively studied with respect to bone loss, muscle atrophy as well as several other physiological systems, the existence of an effect on the brain has been reported only very recently. We performed a prospective study using MRI scans pre and post flight to investigate the impact of prolonged...

Ten cosmonauts, who spent an average of 189 days in space, had changes in brain volumes — mainly decreased cortical volume and increased CSF subarachnoid and ventricular volume — with some changes persisting up to an average of 7 months after return to Earth.

Neuronal control of stepping movement in healthy human is based on integration between brain, spinal neuronal networks, and sensory signals. It is generally recognized that there are continuously occurring adjustments in the physiological states of supraspinal centers during all routines movements. For example, visual as well as all other sources o...

Video demonstrating effects of TSCS only and VIS+TSCS in 6 subjects tested in the gravity neutral device.

Exposure to weightlessness in the course of spaceflight (SF) is connected tightly to physiological alterations of vestibular functions, the support deprivation, and a significant decline of the proprioceptive information density (Grigoriev et al., 2004), which affects negatively the ability to control a precision of voluntary movements. These dictu...

Dry Immersion (DI) studies that were performed for years at the Institute of Biomedical Problems have shown that support withdrawal is followed by the development of hypogravitational motor syndrome signs (HMS), similar to those observed after space flights: postural muscle atonia and atrophy, hyperreflexia of spinal reflexes, voluntary movement di...

The aim of the study was to assess the role of visual feedback in performing tasks of vertical posture maintenance after exposure to simulated microgravity. The study involved 20 young male volunteers. As a model of microgravity, was the «dry» immersion (DI) that reproduces the elimination of support and physical loads was used. Postural tests were...

It is known that visual feedback plays an important role in controlling the posture. It can be assumed that the muscular commands providing correction of the vertical post, after one disturbance in the presence of visual signals, are formed faster and more accurately than in their absence.When holding a vertical position, visual information is not...

The resuts of studies of walking and running characteristics under conditions of space flights are presented. The changes in strategy of locomotor performance in the course of long term space flights and after their accomplishement are revealed in the study.

The present report is dedicated to the research of sole ground reaction forces (GRF) biomechanical characteristics in cosmonauts before, during and after long-term space flights. The research is carried out with participation of five ISS crewmembers. Changes in GRF destributing values between heel and tarsus areas were discovered as well as in step...

Alterations in motor system structure and function are the constant consequences of exposure to weightlessness of different duration (Kozlovskaya et al., 1987). The studies performed after space flights (SF) and in onground models have shown that microgravity influences on all the segments of motor system – from structure of muscle fibers to coordi...

The English version here >>> https://bit.ly/3uzCj4n <<< ___ В исследовании приняло участие 12 здоровых испытателей-добровольцев, подвергавшихся воздействию 3-суточной или 6-часовой "сухой" иммерсии (СИ). Тонус мышц спины определяли методом резонансной вибрографии по показателям поперечной жесткости исследуемых мышц. В эксперименте с 3-суточной СИ т...

We present a new perspective on the concept of feed-forward compared to feedback mechanisms for motor control. We propose that conceptually all sensory information in real time provided to the brain and spinal cord can be viewed as a feed-forward phenomenon. We also propose that the spinal cord continually adapts to a broad array of ongoing sensory...

We reported previously that both transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation and direct pressure stimulation of the plantar surfaces of the feet can elicit rhythmic, involuntary, step-like movements in non-injured subjects with their legs in a gravity-neutral apparatus. The present experiments investigated the convergence of spinal and planta...

A series of observations have provided important insight into properties of the spinal as well as supraspinal circuitries that control posture and movement. We have demonstrated that spinal rats can regain full weight-bearing standing and stepping over a range of speeds and directions with the aid of electrically enabling motor control (eEmc), phar...

Многочисленные эксперименты убедительно показали, что глубокие нарушения управления позой, выраженность которых зависит от продолжительности полета, являются закономерным следствием пребывания в невесомости. Процесс позной устойчивости заключается в удержании центра тяжести в стабильном положении и включает в себя вестибулярные, проприоцептивные и...

Impairments in balance control are inevitable following exposure to microgravity. However, the role of particular sensory system in postural disorders at different stages of the exposure to microgravity still remains unknown. We used a method called Dry Immersion (DI), as a ground-based model of microgravity, to elucidate the effects of 6-hours of...

The effect of a treatment course with a Regent multimodal complex exoskeleton (MCE) on the reorganization of cortical locomotor zones was studied in 14 patients with post-stroke hemiparesis, mainly in the chronic stage of the disease. Specific activation zones were identified prior to treatment in the primary sensorimotor and supplementary motor ar...

Introduction: Countermeasures to prevent or partially offset the negative physiologic changes that are caused by the effects of microgravity play an important role in supporting the performance of crewmembers in flight and their safe return to Earth. Research conducted in Russia on the orbital stations Salyut and Mir, as well as simulation experim...

Introduction: The system of countermeasures for the adverse effects of microgravity developed in the USSR supported the successful implementation of long-duration spaceflight (LDS) programs on the Salyut and Mir orbital stations and was subsequently adapted for flights on the International Space Station (ISS). From 2000 through 2010, crews complet...

The study discusses Russia’s system of preventive countermeasures and its general principles based on a successful experience accumulated by many crews of long-duration missions on Russian space stations. The preventive system tested during the exploitation of the International Space Station (ISS) was described in detail. For example, differences i...

Motor unit (MU) activity in the leg extensors has been tested by maintenance of a small isometric effort under the conditions of support deprivation enabled by dry immersion with simultaneous mechanic stimulation of the foot support zones. The analysis of MU interspike interval (ISI) histograms in the heads of two leg extensors (m. soleus and m. ga...

To date little is known about catabolic NO-dependent signaling systems in human skeletal muscle during early stages of gravitational unloading. The goal of the study was to analyze signaling pathways that determine the initial development of proteolytic events in human soleus muscle during short-term gravitational unloading (simulated microgravity)...

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The mechanisms underlying the locomotion recovery in poststroke patients remain unknown. Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) is a new method to evaluate the functional state of the motor system. Using of the exoskeleton complex (EC) allow to correct walking pattern significantly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability o...

To date, hampered physiological function after exposure to microgravity has been primarily attributed to deprived peripheral neuro-sensory systems. For the first time, this study elucidates alterations in human brain function after long-duration spaceflight. More specifically, we found significant differences in resting-state functional connectivit...

The effects of mechanical stimulation of the sole support zones on the state of the m. soleus moto-neuron pool in humans have been studied under 7-day support unloading conditions, which were simulated using a dry immersion (DI) model. The excitability of the m. soleus motoneuron pool was estimated by the H-reflex amplitude normalized by the maxima...

The experiments reported here showed that decerebrate cats can actively maintain posture during standing and walking. On standing, postural corrections consisted of redistribution of extensor muscle activity in response to perturbations. Correcting reactions during walking included changes in the durations of the swing and transfer phases of the lo...

The effects of mechanical stimulation of the soles' support zones in regimens of slow and fastwalking (75 and 120 steps per minute) were studied using the model of supportlessness (legs suspension). 20 healthy subjects participated in the study. EMG activity of hip and shin muscles was recorded. Kinematic of leg movements was assessed with the use...

We summarize here the results obtained from studies of the effects of gravitational unloading on the spinal system controlling the structure and function of the muscle apparatus. Important roles in the development of low-gravity motor syndrome were found for: the process of axon demyelination due to reductions in the expression of genes responsible...

The program of extended-duration space flights including exploration missions is widely discussed at present time. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence showing that physical capacity of cosmonauts is significantly reduced after long-duration space flights. It is evident that the most impaired functions are those that rely on gravity,...

Various transmitter systems, including the serotoninergic, influence the locomotor behavior of animals. Studies have shown that the spinal cord, deprived of supraspinal control, has mechanisms able to induce locomotor activity in the hindlimbs and that the afferent system can trigger these mechanisms. Behavioral experiments on rats with complete tr...

Galvanic vestibular stimulation is a simple, harmless, noninvasive and low-cost research technique. In spite on a long history, it has been recently found popularity as a research tool. At present occurs of its revival as a research and diagnostic tool. Considerable effects of such stimulation for motor, visual, somatosensory, vestibular and cognit...

PRELIMINARY SENSORIMOTOR AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESULTS FROM THE JOINT RUSSIAN AND U.S. PILOT FIELD TEST WITH PLANNING FOR THE FULL FIELD TEST BEGINNING WITH THE YEAR LONG ISS MISSION M.F. Reschke1, I.B. Kozlovskaya2, E.S. Tomilovskaya2, J.J. Bloomberg1, S.H. Platts3, I.V. Rukavishnikov2, E.V. Fomina2, M.B. Stenger3,4, S.M.C. Lee3,4, S.J. Wood1,5, A.P....

Motor units (MUs) activity in the knee extensors were tested by sustention of a small isometric effort in the conditions of foot support deprivation by dry immersion with simultaneous mechanic stimulation of the foot support zones. Analysis of MUs inter-pulse intervals (IPI) histograms in the heads of two leg extensors (m. soleus and m. gastrocnemi...

The evolution of living systems occurred under the conditions of earth gravity. Prolonged absence of gravity disturbs the function of almost all organs and systems of living organisms at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Skeletal musculature is most sensitive to the state of weightlessness. For example, as soon as the first day under the c...

In order to determine the effects of support and proprioceptive afferentation on the characteristics of visual-manual tracking (VMT), we used a model of weightlessness—horizontal dry immersion. Altogether 30 subjects who stayed in the immersion bath from 5 to 7 days were examined to evaluate the accuracy of the VMT in tasks to pursue the jerky (sac...

The effects of mechanical stimulation of the soles’ support zones in the modes of slow and fast walking (75 and 120 steps per minute) were studied using the model of supportlessness (legs suspension). 20 healthy subjects participated in the study. EMG activity of hip and shin muscles was recorded. Kinematics of leg movements was assessed with the u...

The space medicine data on the nature of motor disorders suggest an important role of the support inputs in the control of mammalian tonic and postural systems. Progress in functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRT) makes it possible to perform in vivo analysis of various brain areas during stimulation of the support afferentation. Under these...

We have found that the brainstem-spinal cord circuitry of decerebrated cats actively maintain the equilibrium during standing, walking and imposed mechanical perturbations similar to that observed in intact animals. The corrective hindlimb motor responses during standing included redistribution of the extensor activity ipsilateral and contralateral...

The paper considers the fundamental principles of the Russian countermeasures system validated successfully in multiple long-term missions to the Russian space stations. The system adopted on the ISS Russian segment is detailed. In particular, it is pinpointed that physical training of cosmonauts was adjusted to the demands of the stages of ISS ass...

The aim of the study was to examine effects of long-duration exposure to weightlessness on characteristics of the vertical gaze fixation reaction (GFR). The subjects were to perform the target acquisition task on visual stimuli that appeared at a distance of 16 deg. up- and down from the primary position in a random order. Experiments were performe...

Different mediator systems including serotoninergic one can influence animal's locomotor behavior. It has been shown that the spinal cord in the absence of supraspinal control is able to induce the locomotor activity in hindlimbs and afferent system can activate this mechanism. In behavioral studies on the rats with complete transection of the spin...

Biomechanical and electromyographic characteristics of locomotion were studied before and after a space flight on days 3, 7, and 10 after landing in 18 participants of prolonged space missions on board the International Space Station. It has been shown that microgravity causes significant changes in biomechanical and electromyographic characteristi...

Results of longstanding studies of the nature and mechanisms of negative effects of microgravity on the motor system allowed to consider that support withdrawal is a key factor in development of the disturbances under conditions of microgravity and that support afferentation plays a leading role in the control of tonic muscle system (Kozlovskaya et...

The lateral stiffness and electromyogram characteristics of the resting calf flexor and extensor muscles have been studied in 18 subjects during a seven-day immersion with and without mechanical stimulation of the foot support zones. It has been shown that as early as day 1 of support deprivation, the lateral stiffness steadily decreases in the m....

When modeling the effects of hypogravity by the method of hindlimb unloading in rats, the area of cross-section in the lumbar part of spinal cord was found to reduce. Analysis of spinal cord slides showed that these changes are associated with a decrease in the area of white substance. The data obtained are consistent with our previous observation...

Methods that, on the one hand, can ensure patient’s mobility and, on the other hand, activate afferent inputs are the main in the rehabilitation treatment. Recent studies have shown that plasticity is the structural basis of recovery after central nervous system lesions. Reorganization of cortical areas, increase in the efficiency of the functionin...

A new method for the activation of spinal locomotor networks (SLN) in humans by transcutaneous electrical spinal cord stimulation (tESCS) has been described. The tESCS applied in the region of the T11-T12 vertebrae with a frequency of 5–40 Hz elicited involuntary step-like movements in healthy subjects with their legs suspended in a gravity-neutral...

The purpose of the study was to explore effects of weightlessness on characteristics of stereotype motor reactions registered during visual target acquisition task. The studies were provided with 7 cosmonauts - members of 186-198 days Mir missions. Test sessions were performed 4 times before launch, once a month during flight, and twice after landi...

The purpose of the study consisted of comparing the efficacy of two regimens of locomotor training in preventing negative effects of weightlessness on physical performance: i) the intensive interval training with number of short-term (1 min) intervals of high velocity running alternating with 2 min intervals of low velocity walking (group A, n = 8)...

The purpose of the study consisted of the analysis of the efficacy of physical exercise of different kinds to counteract the negative effects of the motor activity deficit. Methods. 6 subjects have been isolated for 520 days in the onground mock up of the interplanetary space ship under conditions of simulated interplanetary travel. The diffierent...

Contingent negative variation (CNV) topography, hemispheric asymmetry and time-course were investigated in healthy subjects and non-medicated paranoid schizophrenic patients in two antisaccade paradigms with the short (800-1000 ms) and long (1200-1400 ms) durations of the fixation period. EEG and electrooculogram (EOG) were recorded. Saccade charac...

Balance function is dramatically deteriorated after exposure to microgravity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role and the contribution of different gravity sensory systems to the development of balance impairment after long-term spaceflights. Postural perturbations (pushes to the chest) of the threshold, medium, and sub-max...

It was previously shown that different cell types in vivo and in vitro may die via apoptosis under weightlessness conditions in space as well as in simulated hypogravity on the Earth. We assessed survivability of spinal motoneurons of rats after 35-day antiorthostatic hind limb suspension. Following weight bearing, unloading the total protein conte...

The simulation model of “dry” immersion was used to evaluate the effects of plantar mechanical stimulation (PMS) and high frequency electromyostimulation (EMS) on the mechanical properties of human soleus fibers under the conditions of gravitational unloading. We examined contractile properties of single fibers by means of tensometry, transversal s...

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of long-duration space flight on the acquisition of specific visual targets in the horizontal plane. Seven cosmonauts (4 high performance pilots and 3 non-pilots) who had flown between 186–198 days on Mir served as subjects. Baseline testing was performed 4 times prior to launch and 4 times follow...

Abstract Immersion is a useful tool for studying fluid-volume homeostasis. Natriuretic peptides play a vital role in renal, humoral, and cardiovascular regulation under changing environmental conditions. We hypothesized that dry immersion would rapidly induce a new steady state for water and sodium metabolism, and that serum NT-proBNP levels, a prox...

The results of extended comparative research in the effect of hypogravity on the motor system in space flights and ground-based experiments have shown that “dry” immersion (DI) is the most adequate model of microgravity—the time of development, and the volume and depth of structural and functional motor disorders in DI are very close to what is obs...