Effect of mental arithmetic on cardiovascular responses during parabolic flights: The Barcelona Zero-G Challenge

Abstract

When an astronaut transitions from a low to high gravitational environment, fluid shifts from the head towards the feet results in orthostatic intolerance, leading to syncope. Ground based experiments have shown that by stimulating the cardiovascular system via simple mental stressors, syncope can be delayed, potentially enabling astronauts to reach assistance before loss of consciousness. However, the effect of mental stressors on the stimulation of the cardiovascular system is unknown in gravitational environments different than that of Earth's. As such, this paper investigates the effects that mental stressors have under various gravitational environments. To do this, a pilot study was performed in which two participants were own on two separate parabolic flights that simulated hyper and hypogravity conditions. The plane used was an Aerobatic Single-Engine Cap-10B plane (twin seater), and each participant executed 11 parabolas. The participants were the winners of the Barcelona Zero-G Challenge 2011 organized by UPC Barcelona Tech and Aeroclub Barcelona-Sabadell. Measurements were made of the participants' hemodynamic and autonomic response throughout the parabolas, using a Chronocord. Comparisons of the baseline response without mental stressors, and the response with mental stressors were made. It was determined that there is an increase in cardiovascular activity during hypo- and hyper-gravity when performing mental arithmetic.