Changes in gastric myoelectric activity during space flight

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences Vol. 47; no. 8; pp. 1737 - 1745
• Main Authors: Harm, Deborah L., Sandoz, Gwenn R., Stern, Robert M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Johnson Space Center Springer 01.08.2002; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aerospace Medicine; Biological and medical sciences; Eating - physiology; Electrophysiology; Functional investigation of the digestive system; Gastrointestinal Motility - physiology; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Motion Sickness - physiopathology; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating - physiology; Nausea - etiology; Space Flight; Stomach - physiology; Vomiting - etiology; Support, U.s. Gov't, Non-P.h.s; Human; Vomiting/etiology; Support, Non-U.s. Gov't; Gastrointestinal Motility/physiology; Stomach/physiology; Eating/physiology; Electrophysiology; Nasa Discipline Neuroscience; Space Flight; Short Duration; Motion Sickness/physiopathology; Myoelectric Complex, Migrating/physiology; Sts Shuttle Project; Nasa Center Jsc; Flight Experiment; Nausea/etiology; Manned; Stomach; Association; Motility; Electrical activity; Postprandial; Motion sickness; Digestive diseases; Procedure; Space flight; NASA Discipline Neuroscience; NASA Center JSC
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1016480109272

The purpose of the present study was to examine postprandial myoelectric activity of the stomach and gastric activity associated with space motion sickness using electrogastrography. Three crewmembers participated in this investigation. Preflight, subjects exhibited normal postprandial responses to the ingestion of a meal. Inflight, crewmembers exhibited an abnormal decrease in the power of the normal gastric slow wave after eating on flight day 1, but had a normal postprandial response by flight day 3. Prior to and during episodes of nausea and vomiting, the electrical activity of the stomach became dysrhythmic with 60-80% of the spectral power in the bradygastric and tachygastric frequency ranges. These findings indicate that gastric motility may be decreased during the first few days of space flight. In addition, changes in the frequency of the gastric slow wave associated with space motion sickness symptoms are consistent with those reported for laboratory-induced motion sickness.