SVETA

"Vestibular System, Cognition and Vegetative Regulations"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The vestibular system (VS), and more specifically its otolithic part (specialized in detecting gravity and inertial linear acceleration), has long been recognized for its role in spatial orientation and postural equilibrium. Its involvement in the regulation of other physiological systems (respiratory and cardiovascular systems, circadian regulation, food intake, bone mineralization) has been made clear only recently. Besides an increase in basic scientific knowledge, studying the biological impact of VS is also crucial for space exploration because it could participate in some harmful effects of prolonged exposure to weightlessness - such as cardiovascular and sensory-motor deconditioning, bone loss, and hormonal changes. VS dysfunction could also be implicated in common pathological conditions such as orthostatic hypotension, sleep disruption, bone loss…Studying the biological effects of the otolith system can be performed by removing it or, more physiologically, by changing the level of gravity. Hypergravity can be produced by centrifuges while reduced gravity can only be obtained during parabolic or space flights. There are few ground alternatives, such as head-down bed rest and dry immersion, for studying some aspects of the effect of weightlessness on physiological systems. These facilities are scattered throughout Europe, Russia and the USA and no single scientific team has the expertise in all the main scientific fields relevant to gravitational physiology: neurosciences, musculo-skeletal physiology, endocrinology, chronobiology, and cardiovascular physiology. Thus, ambitious scientific research on the implication of VS in gravitational physiology is not conceivable without international cooperation. The aim of this proposal is to establish long-term research cooperation on VS and gravitational physiology at an international level, involving the main research facilities in Europe, Russia and the USA, and to create new research opportunities in this area.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

The vestibular system helps vertebrates ascertain body position in space and maintain postural equilibrium. Its function is also linked to regulation of the cardiovascular system, the circadian rhythm and bone mineralisation, and EU-funded scientists are unravelling the connections.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

For humans and many other animals, sense of gravity and linear acceleration are two ways to get a handle on body position and equilibrium. The otolith organs of the vestibular system are responsible. Scientists are just beginning to unravel the interrelationships of the otolith system with other body systems and functions.

No single scientific team combines all the necessary cross-disciplinary expertise in gravitational physiology. The EU-funded project 'Vestibular system, cognition and vegetative regulations' (SVETA) has brought together important research groups in Europe, Russia and the United States to open new frontiers in this area.

The vestibular system has direct and indirect effects on the cardiovascular system. Project researchers applied a short-term ambiguous otolith stimulation (unclear tilt or translation) in conjunction with visual stimulation to corroborate tilt or translation. Visual stimulation alone had no effect. When it led to a perception of tilt in conjunction with vestibular stimulation, researchers observed a large cardiovascular response in subjects. This supports an interaction between the two systems, results that have been disseminated in two published papers.

Two ground-based paradigms for studying the effects of microgravity are bed rest (extended exposure to a head-down tilt position) and dry immersion (immersing a person in water while covered with an elastic waterproof fabric). Russian scientists have completed the experiments investigating the physiological and cognitive effects of dry immersion. In the next phase, these experiments will be reproduced in other partner labs and the bed rest ones will be done as well.

Experiments exploring the effects of long-term vestibular stimulation or vestibular loss on cognitive and physiological measures are underway. Numerous experiments have targeted connections to the hippocampus, a brain structure known for its well-established role in learning and memory. Scientists have also evaluated effects on bone density. Results have led to three publications.

The fruitful SVETA collaboration is shedding light on the effects of short- and long-term vestibular stimulation on the cardiovascular, skeletal and nervous systems. Outcomes will form critical input to planning of future space exploration missions and will also aid in better diagnosis and treatment of vestibular system-related disorders in other systems.