The present work reports and discuses the changes in brain
bioelectrical signals induced on normal subjects by open and
closed eyes during their first parabolic flight in a small
aerobatic plane. A parabolic flight maneuver is characterized by
gravity changes from 1g to ~3g (first hypergravity phase, P1) to
~0.05g (hypogravity phase, P2) to ~ 2g (second hypergravity
phase, P3) to 1g (inflight phase, B1). EEG signals have been
obtained using a 14 channels EMOTIV EPOC device. Digital
preprocessing techniques have been applied in order to properly
clean all the experimental signals. Standardized Low Resolution
Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) allowed
obtaining intracranial activity. Statistical analysis of this
intracranial activity was performed by using analysis of
variance techniques (ANOVA). If ANOVA results were
significant, post-hoc analyses were carried out. The results
clearly show a decreasing of the intracranial activity during the
hypogravity phase with open and closed eyes. Concerning mean
values, significant differences have been detected between the
hypogravity, P2, and both hypergravity phases, P1 and P3.
Significant differences have also been detected for open eyes, by
lobes. To check if intracranial activity presents significant
differences along the phases, Even Related Potential, ERP,
analyses were carried out. For both open and closed eyes tests,
sLORETA images show statistical significant differences in the
Brodmann areas 18 (Left Occipital Lobe) and 39 (Right
Temporal Lobe) between B1-P2, respectively.Postprint (published version
