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Himi, Tetsuo

Publications and source records attributed to Himi, Tetsuo.

Role of otolith endorgans in the genesis of vestibular-visual conflict sickness (pitch) in the squirrel monkey (First report)

The effects of ablation of the macula utriculi and macula sacculi on vestibular-visual conflict emesis in squirrel monkeys are investigated. An optokinetic drum and a turntable were used for the direction conflict experiment. A significant difference between the preoperative condition and postunilateral and postbilateral utriculo-sacculectomy conditions is observed. It is detected that after unilateral sacculectomy the conflict sickness decreases and no emesis occurs; however, 4.5 months after sacculectomy, the animals regain their conflict sickness. The data reveal that macular afferents are important in the genesis of sensory conflict emesis and two submodalities may be needed to cause conflict sickness onset.

Igarashi, Makoto↗

Vestibular-visual conflict training

Squirrel monkeys susceptible to vestibular-visual conflict (similar to that produced in space motion) were successfully trained to lesser sensitivity by repeated exposures to various randomly mixed patterns of vestibular-visual conflict in sagittal plane. As long as the training effect was retained, trained animals exhibited low sickness scores and no emesis. It is suggested that the adaptation maneuvers described in this study can be effective as a training routine for crew members immediately prior to their space flight missions.

Igarashi, Makoto↗