CHIMPANZEE PERFORMANCE DURING EIGHT DAYS OF SIMULATED ORBITAL FLIGHT

Abstract : This report describes the performance of a chimpanzee in a 5 psi, 91 to 95% oxygen live cell environment over an 8-day period. Although reaction times on three different tasks were not of the quality of pre-experimental data, they were well below the allowable time inteval for responding. Another task, involving continuous motor functioning, was essentially unaffected. The fifth task provided food or water reinforcement for a given amount of work, but previous hunger and thirst motivational levels were altered by approximately 50% over the 8 days of testing. However, the subject lost less than 1 pound of weight during the test and his postexperimental condition was good. (Author)