Confinement study (2003)

This study was conducted by MEDES on behalf of ESA and CNES in 2003.

Its goal was to study and assess the influence of the composition of crews (in manned spaceflight) on risk perception and risk taking under conditions of hypnic and chronobiological stress.

Study objectives

(NASA, 2002)As part of the preparation for long duration missions and the prospect of interplanetary missions, the aim of this project was to estimate the vulnerability to risk taking of 12 healthy male volunteers compared with 12 healthy female volunteers under conditions of sleep deprivation and chronobiological stress.

Implementation of the study

Stock de nourritureChronobiological stress conditions were achieved through isolation and confinement lasting eight days in the Space Clinic, combined with conditions of low-intensity artificial lighting such as that recommended for spacecraft by NASA.

Acute sleep deprivation of 24 hours was induced at the end of this period of isolation and confinement.

The volunteers also underwent acute sleep deprivation without prior isolation and confinement, in order to assess the effects of this deprivation alone.

The 24 healthy volunteers were divided into four groups of six (three men and three women per group).

A battery of tests to assess risk taking, level of alertness and performance was conducted during the eight days of isolation and confinement, before and after the sleep deprivation, and after sleep deprivation not preceded by a period of confinement (normal living conditions with controlled sleep-wake hours).

The consequences of the stress conditions typified by the acute sleep deprivation and chronobiological stress were also evaluated on the endocrine and immune systems (cortisol and cytokines assayed in saliva) and on regulation of the cardiovascular system by the autonomic nervous system (heart rate variability).

Conclusions

ISS (Crédit : NASA, 2010)

The purpose of this ground-based research was to help clarify the consequences of sleep deprivation and chronobiological stress on risk taking, performance, and physiological parameters related to stress.

Ultimately, the results should enable a better organisation of the composition of space flight crews and task allocation according to the risks incurred by men or women.