Comparison of Spatiotemporal Adaptive Indicators in Isolated and Confined Teams during the Concordia Stay, Tara Drift and Mars-500 Experiment

Abstract

The present study examines teams' behavior monitored over long-term missions in isolation and confinement to highlight human performance for future interplanetary exploration. The theoretical model refers to rules governing self-organized systems based on the heterogeneity of their own elements, i.e. cultural, gender, and individual characteristics. We used ethological method based on observations of the adaptive strategies in daily life activities through temporal indicators and spatial indicators. The protocol of observations was implemented at meal times with data collected weekly during the Concordia stay and Tara drift, and every two weeks during the Mars-500 experiment. Behavioral monitoring consisted of localizing and identifying team members at tables and of measuring teams' meal durations. The results showed a cyclicity of changes in meal durations during the Concordia stay, a diversity of changes in spatial positions during the Tara drift and a stability of these behavioral occurrences during the Mars-500 experiment. We discuss the ethological findings with regard to psychological contexts and indicate differences and associations among the three situations regarding group organization in the perspective of 500-day space missions. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments is the property of Purdue University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)