Effect of simulated microgravity on mental transformations in a realistic perspective - taking task

International audienceThe study tested the specific impact of vestibular disruptions during parabolic flight on mental transformations involved in perspective-taking in a virtual reality environment enabling to test object-and self-centered mental transformations. The difference in mean response times and success rates between the control and test conditions observed on the Ground provide strong evidence that the task required subjects to engage in perspective-taking mental operations to solve the task. Similar results were observed in all conditions when comparing ground to 1g in-flight performance, suggesting that performance was not affected by in-flight conditions (e.g., stress, cabin vibrations, increased surrounding noise, etc.). When in-flight 0g responses were compared to in-flight 1g responses, reaction times tended to be faster in 0g compared to 1g. These preliminary results need to be confirmed with a larger sample size and complementary analyses in relation with other factors that may contribute to the observed results