The Effect of Short-Term Exposure to Lower Body Positive Pressure on Motor Signal Processing, Reaction Times, and Cardiovascular Parameters in Healthy Volunteers Using Medical Anti-shock Trousers

TL;DR

This study explores how lower body positive pressure affects motor processing, reaction times, and heart function in healthy people.

Contribution

It reveals how simulated microgravity impacts motor signal processing and cardiovascular responses in humans.

Findings

Systolic blood pressure, stroke volume, and cardiac output increased significantly at 50 mmHg LBPP.

Bereitschaft potential amplitude and area changed significantly at 50 mmHg LBPP.

Reaction times for visual and auditory stimuli improved during LBPP exposure.

Abstract

Microgravity, as experienced during spaceflight has notable effects on the cognition and cardiovascular systems. However, its effect on motor signal processing is not known. In this study, we planned to study the effect of microgravity simulation with a lower body positive pressure of 50 mmHg on motor signal processing, reaction times, and cardiovascular parameters. Thirty healthy human volunteers participated in this investigation, and continuous ECG and non-invasive blood pressure were measured at baseline, during, and after a lower body positive pressure of 50 mmHg. Bereitschafts potential was recorded at 0 mmHg and 50 mmHg pressure values in a lower body positive pressure (LBPP) suit. Parameters recorded during the pressure change of 0 mmHg to 50 mmHg were RR interval, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output, and peripheral vascular resistance. Heart rate variability (HRV) was calculated from RR intervals during resting and pressure of 50 mm of Hg. We also compared simple and choice reaction times for visual and auditory stimuli during 50 mmHg LBPP exposure with baseline recording. We found a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, stroke volume, and cardiac output from baseline at 50 mmHg of LBPP. We found a significant change in amplitude and area of Bereitschaft potential at the C4 site at 50 mmHg of LBPP. We found a significant change in low-frequency power (LF) as compared to the baseline in HRV. Simple reaction time (visual & auditory) and auditory choice reaction time were improved at 50 mmHg of LBPP. Motor signal processing and reaction time were improved during 50 mmHg of lower body positive pressure exposure.

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