https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/29795 2026-04-03T16:59:37Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150907 CM Oman commentary to NASA on Spacelab mission experiment development process Oman, Charles Oman commentary on NASA life sciences Shuttle/Spacelab experiment development process prepared for NASA Life Sciences Strategic Planning Study Committee, April 1987. (Many suggestions were subsequently adopted.) 2023-06-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150906 Space Shuttle/Spacelab-1 Research on Space Motion Sickness: AIAA NE Section Lecture Oman, Charles Text of invited presentation to AIAA New England Section at Avco Everett Reseach Laboratory, March 1984 2023-06-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/114170 Sensory Motor Conflict Theory for Motion Sickness: Oman letter to Reason Oman, Charles M. CM Oman (MIT) letter to JT Reason (U. Manchester) describing Sensory Motor Conflict Theory for motion sickness, as initially presented at NASA Vestibular Motion Sickness Workshop at Johnson Space Center November, 1978, and later elaborated in Oman, C. M. (1982). "A heuristic mathematical model for the dynamics of sensory conflict and motion sickness." Acta Otolaryngologica (Stockholm) 94(S392): 4-44. 2018-03-15T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/87071 Brainstem processing of vestibular sensory exafference: implications for motion sickness etiology Oman, Charles; Cullen, Kathleen The origin of the internal “sensory conflict” stimulus causing motion sickness has been debated for more than four decades. Recent studies show a subclass of neurons in the vestibular nuclei and deep cerebellar nuclei that respond preferentially to passive head movements. During active movement, the semicircular canal and otolith input (“reafference”) to these neurons is cancelled by a mechanism comparing the expected consequences of self-generated movement (estimated with an internal model- presumably located in the cerebellum) with the actual sensory feedback. The un-cancelled component (“exafference”) resulting from passive movement normally helps compensate for unexpected postural disturbances. Notably, the existence of such vestibular “sensory conflict” neurons had been postulated as early as 1982, but their existence and putative role in posture control, motion sickness has been long debated. Here we review the development of “sensory conflict” theories in relation to recent evidence for brainstem and cerebellar reafference cancellation, and identify some open research questions. We propose that conditions producing persistent activity of these neurons, or their targets, stimulates nearby brainstem emetic centers – via an as yet unidentified mechanism. We discuss how such a mechanism is consistent with the notable difference in motion sickness susceptibility of drivers as opposed to passengers, human immunity to normal self-generated movement, and why head restraint or lying horizontal confers relative immunity. Finally, we propose that fuller characterization of these mechanisms, and their potential role in motion sickness could lead to more effective, scientifically based prevention and treatment for motion sickness. Penultimate version of manuscript accepted 4/20/14, and after minor edits, published online May 18, 2014 at Springer Online First as DOI 10.1007/s00221-014-3973-2 2014-04-20T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/78688 MVL@50: Historical photos of MIT Man Vehicle Lab 1962-2012 Oman, Charles; Young, Laurence; Newman, Dava; Hoffman, Jeffrey; Zotos, Elizabeth Historical photos shown at 50th anniversary celebration of the MIT Man Vehicle Laboratory Photographs shown at 50th Anniversary celebration of the MIT Man Vehicle Laboratory, September 14, 2012 2013-05-06T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/78687 Oman 65th program, photos and letters Young, Laurence; Zotos, Elizabeth 2009 Program, letters and photos from CM Oman's 65th birthday symposium Program, letters and photo archive from MVL Director CM Oman's 65th birthday symposium, March 5 in 37-252 2013-05-06T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/78686 40 Years of MIT MVL Memories Oman, Charles 385 photos shown at May 2009 symposium honoring MVL Director C.M. Oman Shows MIT aero astro colleagues and students, and NASA, NSBRI, USN and USAF collaborators between 1996-2009 2013-05-06T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37337 Spatial orientation and navigation in microgravity Oman, Charles M. This chapter summarizes the spatial disorientation problems and navigation difficulties described by astronauts and cosmonauts, and relates them to research findings on orientation and navigation in humans and animals. Spacecraft crew are uniquely free to float in any relative orientation with respect to the cabin, and experience no vestibular and haptic cues that directly indicate the direction of “down”. They frequently traverse areas with inconsistently aligned visual vertical cues. As a result, most experience “Visual Reorientation Illusions” (VRIs) where the spacecraft floors, walls and ceiling surfaces exchange subjective identities. The illusion apparently results from a sudden reorientation of the observer’s allocentric reference frame. Normally this frame realigns to local interior surfaces, but in some cases it can jump to the Earth beyond, as with “Inversion Illusions” and EVA height vertigo. These perceptual illusions make it difficult for crew to maintain a veridical perception of orientation and place within the spacecraft, make them more reliant upon landmark and route strategies for 3D navigation, and can trigger space motion sickness. This chapter distinguishes VRIs and Inversion Illusions, based on firsthand descriptions from Vostok, Apollo, Skylab, Mir, Shuttle and International Space Station crew. Theories on human “gravireceptor” and “idiotropic” biases, visual “frame” and “polarity” cues, top-down processing effects on object orientation perception, mental rotation and “direction vertigo” are discussed and related to animal experiments on limbic head direction and place cell responses. It is argued that the exchange in perceived surface identity characteristic of human VRIs is caused by a reorientation of the unseen allocentric navigation plane used by CNS mechanisms coding place and direction, as evidenced in the animal models. Human VRI susceptibility continues even on long flights, perhaps because our orientation and navigation mechanisms evolved to principally support 2D navigation. Manuscript for Spatial Processing in Navigation, Imagery and Perception, F. Mast and L. Janeke, eds. 2007-05-15T21:08:53Z