How Your Senses React in Outer Space

We have five senses that allow us to visualize and make sense of the world around us. The way we perceive things comes from inputs primarily from our eyes and ears. In outer space the inputs from our senses gets disrupted due to the lack of gravity. Our brain is no longer able to get clear messages from the senses about what is up and what is down.

This happens because the balance of the inner ear is affected by the lack of gravity. It can affect the ability of the astronaut to judge the distance they are standing from an object, or give them the feeling that everything has been turned topsy turvy, upside down. The feeling can cause disorientation and an inability to function in an optimal manner as the brain struggles to make sense of what it sees and hears.

Given the fact that the astronauts also need to be confined to relatively smaller areas in space and are not getting adequate rest, they may also be sufereing from claustrophobia and exhaustion. Both points make it difficult for any human being to function at an optimal manner. This is the reason why some astronauts refer to their condition as suffering from “Space stupids.” More science projects are needed to study the effect that this space induced brain fog has on the astronauts.