Responses to eccentric rotation in two space-bound subjects

Summary Two subjects were rotated eccentrically in the manner described previously. In contrast to a normal control group, settings of a luminous line to the subjective vertical were almost unrelated to the gravitoinertial vector before, and totally so shortly after, space flight. Only 3 days postflight did a clear relation to the gravitoinertial vector re-establish itself in the one subject who actually flew. The correspondence became normal 5 days after the flight. Since there were no clinical abnormalities evident in the subjects, it is suggested that both subjects suppressed their vestibular information, presumably as an effect of vestibular deconditioning training before the flight. In addition, as a consequence of the flight experience one subject continued to ignore it several days after the flight.Abbreviations DARA Deutsche Agentur für Raumfahrtangelegenheiten - DLR Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luft-und Raumfahrt - ESA European space agency - ESTEC European space research and technology centre - G_z G-Units (9.81 m/s²) in z-axis direction - L-xx Launch minus xx days - R+xx Return - VESTA ESA Neurovestibular experiment facility