TECHNICAL EVOLUTIONS OF THE FRENCH MULTIPURPOSE INSTRUMENTS FOR COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCES

Since the first French flight in space in 1982, the CNES has developed a wide range of instruments, especially in the field of Neurosciences . The design of these instruments has considerably evolved from rather simple equipment up to much more sophisticated tools that are being s pecially tayloried for these missions. Four major phases can be identi fied : a simple adaptation of an echographe leading to the first neuro sciences experiments (the ARAGATZ'88 mission), the ILLUSIONS and VIMIN AL instruments used during the ANTARES'92 and ALTAIR'93 missions, the COGNILAB instrument developed for the CASSIOPFE'96 mission, to be re-u sed in 1997 and in 1999, a preliminary design of the 1999 mission payl oad, including virtual reality concepts, in a modular design to adapt to the European COF. Aside from the evolution of scientific requiremen ts, the experience gained during the flights led to progressive improv ements in the different technical parts, including visual system, body restraint systems, accessories, such as a force feedback joystick, co mputer and software, etc. This paper describes the technical evolution s in the CNES Neurosciences program. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.