Additive Sensory Noise Effects on Operator Performance in a Lunar Landing Simulation.

Adding noise to a system to improve a weak signal's detectability is known as stochastic resonance (SR). SR has been shown to improve sensory perception and cognitive performance in certain individuals, but it is unknown whether this performance improvement can translate to meaningful macrocognitive enhancements in performance for complex, operational tasks. We investigated human operator performance in a lunar landing simulation while applying auditory white noise and/or noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation.

Training augmentation using additive sensory noise in a lunar rover navigation task.

Background: The uncertain environments of future space missions means that astronauts will need to acquire new skills rapidly; thus, a non-invasive method to enhance learning of complex tasks is desirable. Stochastic resonance (SR) is a phenomenon where adding noise improves the throughput of a weak signal. SR has been shown to improve perception and cognitive performance in certain individuals.

Effects of additive sensory noise on cognition.

Background: Adding noise to a system to improve a weak signal's throughput is known as stochastic resonance (SR). SR has been shown to improve sensory perception. Some limited research shows noise can also improve higher order processing, such as working memory, but it is unknown whether SR can broadly improve cognition.

A machine learning approach to identify stochastic resonance in human perceptual thresholds.

Background: Stochastic resonance (SR) is achieved when a faint signal is improved with the addition of the appropriate amount of white noise. Perceptual thresholds are expected to follow a characteristic performance improvement curve as a function of the white noise level added (i.e.

Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Produces Cross-Modal Improvements in Visual Thresholds.

Background: Stochastic resonance (SR) refers to a faint signal being enhanced with the addition of white noise. Previous studies have found that vestibular perceptual thresholds are lowered with noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (i.e.

A standardized, incremental protocol to increase human tolerance to the cross-coupled illusion.

Background: Humans can adapt to the "Coriolis" cross-coupled illusion with repeated exposure, improving the tolerability of faster spin rates and enabling short-radius, intermittent centrifugation for artificial gravity implementation.

Objective: This investigation assesses the criticality of personalization in acclimation to the cross-coupled illusion.

Methods: We used the median stimulus sequence of our previous effective and tolerable personalized, threshold-based protocol to develop a standardized (non-personalized) approach.

Tolerable acclimation to the cross-coupled illusion through a 10-day, incremental, personalized protocol.

BACKGROUNDArtificial gravity (AG) has the potential to provide a comprehensive countermeasure mitigating deleterious effects of microgravity. However, the cross-coupled "Coriolis" illusion has prevented using a more feasible and less costly short-radius centrifuge, as compared to large, slowly spinning systems.OBJECTIVEWe assessed tolerability of a personalized, incremental protocol to acclimate humans to the cross-coupled illusion, enabling faster spin rates.