INTERDEPENDENCE OF BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE SLEEP-WAKEFULNESS CYCLE AND COSMONAUTS' WORK-REST SCHEDULE

Abstract

The paper considers the interdependence wakefulness and sleep as two basic components of the human diurnal body functioning. Many experimental investigations stated the facts that troubled slumber affects quality of wakefulness, cognitive function specifically, while wakefulness impaired by emotional strain, work overload and ensuing fatigue and overwork results in bad sleep. Russian flight rules relies on interdependence of these diurnal components in setting limit to cosmonaut's work time (6.5 hrs.) and allotting sufficient time for night sleep (8.5 hrs). In reality, these rules are deviated because of scheduled night operations and systematic excessive workloads. Both of these factors provoke the risk of crew health impairment and performance degradation that should be kept in mind as by planners of orbital, so future space exploration missions.