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Maximizing information from space data resources: a case for expanding integration across research disciplines

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Abstract

Regulatory systems are affected in space by exposure to weightlessness, high-energy radiation or other spaceflight-induced changes. The impact of spaceflight occurs across multiple scales and systems. Exploring such interactions and interdependencies via an integrative approach provides new opportunities for elucidating these complex responses. This paper argues the case for increased emphasis on integration, systematically archiving, and the coordination of past, present and future space and ground-based analogue experiments. We also discuss possible mechanisms for such integration across disciplines and missions. This article then introduces several discipline-specific reviews that show how such integration can be implemented. Areas explored include: adaptation of the central nervous system to space; cerebral autoregulation and weightlessness; modelling of the cardiovascular system in space exploration; human metabolic response to spaceflight; and exercise, artificial gravity, and physiologic countermeasures for spaceflight. In summary, spaceflight physiology research needs a conceptual framework that extends problem solving beyond disciplinary barriers. Administrative commitment and a high degree of cooperation among investigators are needed to further such a process. Well-designed interdisciplinary research can expand opportunities for broad interpretation of results across multiple physiological systems, which may have applications on Earth.

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Acknowledgments

Nandu Goswami was supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG project 817086 “ Orthocap”). Alan Hargens was supported by NASA grants NNX09AP11G and NNX10AM18G. Pete Roma was supported by the US National Space Biomedical Research Institute through NASANCC 9-58-NBPF01602 and Directed Research Project NBPF00008.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology, Medical University of Graz, Harrachgasse 21, Graz, 8010, Austria

    Nandu Goswami, Jerry J. Batzel & Helmut G. Hinghofer-Szalkay

  2. Institute of Mathematics and Scientific Computing, University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    Jerry J. Batzel

  3. International Space University, Strasbourg, France

    Gilles Clément

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA

    T. Peter Stein

  5. University of California, San Diego, CA, USA

    Alan R. Hargens

  6. Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    M. Keith Sharp

  7. Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Andrew P. Blaber

  8. Institutes for Behavior Resources, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Peter G. Roma

  9. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Peter G. Roma

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  1. Nandu Goswami
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  2. Jerry J. Batzel
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  3. Gilles Clément
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  4. T. Peter Stein
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  5. Alan R. Hargens
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  6. M. Keith Sharp
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  7. Andrew P. Blaber
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  8. Peter G. Roma
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  9. Helmut G. Hinghofer-Szalkay
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Correspondence to Nandu Goswami.

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Communicated by Nigel A. S. Taylor.

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Goswami, N., Batzel, J.J., Clément, G. et al. Maximizing information from space data resources: a case for expanding integration across research disciplines. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 1645–1654 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2507-5

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