Vestibular function in military pilots before and after 10 s at +9 Gz on a centrifuge.
BACKGROUND
Effects of high Gz acceleration can threaten flight safety through loss of consciousness or a lesser-known phenomenon, G-induced vestibular dysfunction (GIVD). There are reports of GIVD following high-G flight or centrifuge exposure. The aim of this study was to explore this problem under controlled conditions using a human centrifuge.


METHODS
There were 11 pilots who were exposed to +9 Gz for 10 s. Measurements were made before and after G exposure to assess vestibular function, including spontaneous nystagmus, positioning nystagmus, optokinetic nystagmus, vestibular ocular reflex, vestibular-vision interaction, subjective vision vertical perception, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.


RESULTS
No significant change was found for vestibular function after the Gz exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears +9 Gz for 10 s does not produce GIVD. However, the possible effects of prolonged high G maneuvers in modern aircraft combined with head movements may warrant further study.
Jia
HongBo
H
Vestibular Laboratory, Institute of Aviation Medicine, Beijing, P. R. China. jiahongbo001@163.com
Cui
GuangBin
G
Xie
SuJiang
S
Tian
DaWei
D
Bi
HongZhe
H
Guo
ShiJun
S
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D002498:Centrifugation; D006801:Humans; D018471:Hypergravity; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors