Effects of isolation, crowding, and different psychological countermeasures on crew behavior and performance.

Studies conducted by I. Altman in the 1960-70s revealed the increase in the individual stress level under isolation and confinement. Altman introduced the term "privacy" as a desired level of personal space that humans need to feel psychologically comfortable.

Wireless Monitoring of Changes in Crew Relations during Long-Duration Mission Simulation.

Group structure and cohesion along with their changes over time play an important role in the success of missions where crew members spend prolonged periods of time under conditions of isolation and confinement. Therefore, an objective system for unobtrusive monitoring of crew cohesion and possible individual stress reactions is of high interest. For this purpose, an experimental wireless group structure (WLGS) monitoring system integrated into a mobile psychophysiological system was developed.

[Interconnected operator's activity under the conditions of experimental climatic stress].

Homeostatic testing was used to monitor the interpersonal instrumental interaction of participants in the experiment with isolation in the conditions of abnormally high temperatures and pall of smoke. It was found that the factor of extreme exposure influenced the team work activity in the isolated small group. Homeostatic testing allowed differentiation between 2 types of people, i.

[Ecopsychological investigations in 520-day isolation].

Assessment of the importance of higher plants for emotions and relations within the group of test-subjects was performed in the long-duration chamber experiment MARS-500 designed as an imitation of an exploration mission. It was shown that the degree of involvement with the plants dictated the magnitude and character of the ecopsychological effect. Subjects with high psychological stability and dominating introversion were more inclined to interact with plants.

[Night sleep structural alteration as a function of individual strategy of adapting to 520-isolation].

Purpose of the work was to establish a relationship between trends in sleep alteration and individual adaptation to the stress-factors in the 520-day isolation study. Psychological evaluations using a battery of motivation tests and L. Sobchik's modification of the Luscher personality test, and Mirror coordinograph enabled to differentiate groups reacting to the stress on the pattern of "control" (G-1) or "search" (G-2) manifested in individual styles of behavior and operator's activity.

[Psychophysiological correlates of individual styles of professional operator's work].

One of the prioritized objectives of psychophysiological support for long-duration space missions is to strengthen professional reliability of cosmonauts. Operator's reliability is dependent as on skillfulness, so individual work style. PILOT-1 and VIRTU methods were used to study individual psychological characteristics and operator's strategy during project MARS500.

Emotional energy, work self-efficacy, and perceived similarity during the Mars 520 study.

Background: The objective of the present research was to study the dynamics of changes in emotional energy, work self-efficacy and perceived similarity in the crew of the Mars 520 experimental study.

Methods: The study comprised six volunteers, all men, between 27-38 yr of age (M = 32.16; SD = 4.

[Control locus, stress resistance and personal growth of the participants in experiment Mars-500].

The article deals with positive personal transformations in a simulated space mission. The investigation was focused on the aspects of control locus, stamina, proactive behavior to overcome challenges, and stress-related personal growth. Besides, ingenious psychophysiological techniques designed to select Russian cosmonauts were used for assessing stress-resistance and ability to control own emotions voluntarily.

[Association between the person-unique individual behavior styles and the quality and reliability of operator's professional performance].

Among the prioritized objectives of maintaining psychophysiological safety in extended space missions is the buildup of crew professional reliability. Reliability of operator's performance hinges as on skills level, so personal working style. The purpose of the investigation was to penetrate into the patterns of association between a person-unique individual behavior style and quality and reliability of simulated professional operator's jobs.

[Characteristics of crew communicative behavior and gonadal hormones excretion during long-term chamber isolation of international male crew].

The peculiarities of psycho-physiological adaptation to the simulation of the extended autonomous manned Mission to Mars with limited resources and external communication were studied. Verbal communication of the crew of 6 male subjects, representing Russian and European Space Agency with Mission Control (MC) as well as physiological correlates of 105-days life and work in the chambers under sensory deprivation, confinement, monotony and high autonomy were observed. Psychological, physiological and biochemical (urinary cortisol and gonadal hormones) testing together with content-analysis of the crew communication with MC were made in parallel.

[Psychophysiological adaptation and communication behavior of human operator during 105-day isolation].

Purpose of the study was to assess effects of 105-d isolation on language behavior and psychophysiological status of volunteered subjects. Software NOOJ was used to determine frequency of mentioning in written reports notions falling into the categories of "Needs", "Activity", "Negation" and "Social regulation". Well-being, activity and mood were assessed with the SAN questionnaire and urine cortisol measurement.

[Utilization of computerized evaluation of mental effectiveness during simulation of spaceflight factors].

Comparative analysis was given to the results of computerized evaluation of mental effectiveness (SOPR-monitoring) during habitual work implementation and modellng of extreme spaceflight factors. SOPR-monito ring includes the following tests: SAN (general condition, activity, mood), 8-color M. Luscher test, continuous counting at auto speed, and target tracking.

[The ability for psych self-regulation as a factor in resistance to the stresses in extreme conditions of space flight].

Significance of the ability for psych self-regulation in the context of resistance to the stresses of space flight was studied in an experiment with 9 test-subjects simulating such factors of space flights as 8 to 9-day isolation and confinement, some physiological effects of microgravity in a head-down position at -8 degrees for 7 d, artificial climate, and implementation of dock and piloting operations. Stress resistance, self-regulation, mental performance and behavior were assessed with the use of computerized tests "Mirror coordinograph", "Relaxometer", and "SOPR-monitoring". The ability to voluntary control psych was shown to be favorable to stress-resistance and rapid recovery of mental efficiency after the natural decline in consequence of the experimental simulation.

[Certain principles of Mars mission crew life and the organization of the performance].

Article is devoted to some new aspects of biomedical support and countermeasures during a manned Mars mission. Significant differences in crew--Mission control interaction in a Martian and orbital flight are described. Special attention is paid to the problem of the Martian crew autonomy and decision-making.

[A methodological study in a space flight simulation context].

To study the effects of isolation and confinement on small groups during long space flights, it is habitual to use closed hyperbaric ground chambers. For the first time, the European Space Agency made use of a nautral environment taking advantage of an Antarctic winter-over at the French Dumont d'Urville Station. The main objective of that study ("International Antarctic Psychological Programme"), was to compare different Russian tests used for training cosmonauts to a W.

Study of the psychological adaptation of the crew during a 135 days space simulation.

The purpose of this study is to examine human adaptation of a three members' crew during a 135 days MIR flight simulation and to compare and validate psychological methods for monitoring and support in flight. The main findings showed that isolation was not a key factor for the subjects who were more concerned by recreational activities, family, and work. The individual reactions to stress of the crew members were to project their problems on the others.

Subject's perceptions of the crew interaction dynamics under prolonged isolation.

Background: The interactions of individuals participating in space simulation studies can give us valuable information about ways that space crew members relate with one another. A promising method of investigating such interactions is based on the Kelly repertory grid technique.

Hypotheses: We predicted that in a space simulation crew: 1) one's personal self-concept would become closer to concepts about other crew members in a cohesive crew, and vice-versa, and 2) the similarity of one's ego images in the past, present and future influences that person's position in the group.

Content analysis of the crew communication with external communicants under prolonged isolation.

Background: The communication between space crews and outside monitoring personnel in Mission Control gives us valuable information about crewmember psychological health. Studying the formal parameters of similar communication during ground-based space simulation missions helps us understand the psychological climate of confined groups over time, and this information can be applied to long-term space missions.

Hypotheses: We hypothesized that psychological closing and information filtration will be observed in a confined crew as the mission progresses and will differ by the type of communication (e.

[Dynamics of subjective perception of in-group interaction during long-term isolation and confinement].

In experiments HUBES and ECOPSY-95 small groups of test-subjects under the conditions of long-term isolation and confinement were noted to split into two fairly stable parts each consisting of two crew members and an "outsider". Strain in the interaction between the "outsider" and the crew tended to grow in acuity as was evidenced by rise in the criteria describing behavior of a small group, and relationship. In both experiments the background for the conflict-threatening strain appeared to be a disintegrated ego-image in both of the "outsiders".

[Some peculiarities of group interaction and individual behavior under conditions of prolonged small group isolation].

The 90-day chamber experiment (ECOPSY-95) gave another opportunity to continue studies of crew interaction and personal behavior with a number of psychological methods earlier used in the 135-day experiment HUBES. Methods of group observation included free discussion and overcoming a problematic case by the group (video monitoring), Kettell's 16 PF and MIPG (A.Abraham) personal tests, and interview.

[The dynamics of communicative interaction of the crew with outside parties during long-term isolation].

Analyzed were indices of communicative activity of crew members during audio- and computer sessions in order to assess status and effectiveness of communicative interaction of crew with external parties. The investigation gave another evidence that an isolated small group develops "closing" and "internal censorship" in contacts with outer personnel. The conclusion was based on limited in intensity, number, topical spectrum and outer companion preference communication.