Cyborgs and Space L1.2

Altering man's bodily functions to meet the requirements of extraterrestrial environments would be more logical than providing an earthly environment for him in space ... Artifact-organism systems which would extend man's unconscious, self-regulatory controls are one possibility

By Manfred E. Clynes and Nathan S. Kline

This article is based on a paper presented under the title of "Drugs, Space and Cybernetics "at the Psych ophysiologica I Aspects of Space Flight Symposium sponsored by the AF School of Aviation Medicine in San Antonio, Tex., in May. The complete paper appeared in the Symposium proceedings, published by Columbia Univ. Press.

Manfred E. CIynes has since 1956 been chief research SPACE travel challenges mankind not only technologically but also scientist at Rockland State, in spiritually, in that it invites man to take an active part in his own biological charge of the Dynamic evolution. Scientific advances of the future may thus be utilized to permit Simulation Lab. A graduate of man's existence in environments which differ radically from those the Un iv. of Melbourne, provided by nature as we know it. Australia, and bolder of an M.S. from Juilliard School, he has for The task of adapting man's body to any environment he may the past 10 years been engaged choose will be made easier by increased knowledge of homeostatic in the design and development functioning, the cybernetic aspects of which are just beginning to be of physiological instrumentation understood and investigated. In the past evolution brought about the and apparatus, ultrasonic altering of bodily functions to suit different environments. Starting as of transducers, and electronic now, it will be possible to achieve this to some degree without alteration data-processing systems. of heredity by suitable biochemical, physiological, and electronic modifications of man's existing modus vivendi. Nathan S. Kline has been director of research at Rockland Homeostatic mechanisms found in organisms are designed to State since 1952 and an assistant provide stable operation in the particular environment of the organism. professor of clinical psychiatry Examples of three successful alternate solutions provided by biological at the Columbia Univ. College mechanisms to the body-environment problem with regard to operating of Physicians and Surgeons temperature are man, hibernating animals, and poikilothermic fish since 1957. Author of more than (organisms with blood that take on the temperature of the environment). 100 papers, Dr. Kline holds a New York Newspaper Guild Various biological solutions have also been developed for Page One Award in science, the another problem-respiration. Mammals, fish, insects, and plants each have Adolph Meyer Award of the a different solution with inherent limitations but eminently suitable for Assn. for Improvement of their field of operation. Should an organism desire to live outside this Mental Health, and the Albert field, an apparently "insurmountable" problem exists. Lasker Award of the American Public Health Association. However, is the problem really insurmountable? If a fish wished to live on land, it could not readily do so. If, however, a particularly intelligent and resourceful fish could be found, who had studied a good deal of biochemistry and physiology, was a master engineer and cyberneticist, and had excellent lab facilities available to him, this fish could

Repritiled fro m ASTRONAUTICS, Scptember, 1960)

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taking a small quantity of water along with him to live on land. The bubble all too easily bursts. The biological problems which exist in space travel are many and varied. Long-term space voyages, involving flights not of days, months or years, but Possibly of several thousand years, will eventually be hard realities, and resultant physiological and psychological conditions must be considered. These are reviewed below. In some cases, we have proposed solutions which probably could be devised with presently available knowledge and techniques. Other Solutions are projections into the future which by their very nature must resemble One of the first Cyborgs, this 220-gm rat science fiction. To illustrate, there may be much more has under its skin the Rose osmotic pump (shown efficient ways of carrying out the functions of the in close-up below), designed to permit continuous respiratory system than by breathing, which becomes injections of chemicals at a slow controlled rate cumbersome in space. One proposed solution for the into an organism withOUt any attention on the not too distant future is relatively simple: Don't part of the organism. breathe! If man attempts partial adaptation to space conditions, instead of insisting on carrying his whole environment along with him, a number of new possibilities appear. One is then led to think about the incorporation of integral exogenous devices to bring about the biological changes which might be necessary in man's homeostatic mechanisms to allow him to live in space qua natura. The autonomic nervous system and endocrine glands cooperate in man to maintain the multiple balances required for his existence. They do this without conscious control, although they are amenable to such influence. Necessary readjustments of these automatic responses under extraterrestrial conceivably have the ability to design an instrument conditions require the aid of control theory, as well as which would allow him to live on land and breathe extensive physiological knowledge. air quite readily. In the same manner, it is becoming apparent Cyborg-Frees Man to Explore that we will in the not too distant future have sufficient knowledge to design instrumental control What are some of the devices necessary for -systems which will make it Possible for our bodies creating self-regulating manmachine systems? This to do things which are no less difficult. self-regulation must function without the benefit of The environment with which man is now consciousness in order to cooperate with the body's concerned is that of space. Biologically, what are the own autonomous homeostatic controls. For the changes necessary to allow man to live adequately in exogenously extended organizational the space environment? Artificial atmospheres encapsulated in some sort of enclosure constitute CLYNES & KLINE complex functioning as an inte- The combination of an osmotic grated homeostatic system un- pressure pump capsule with sensing Psycho-Physiological consciously, we propose the term and controlling mechanisms can form Problems "Cyborg." The Cyborg deliberately a con-tinuous control loop which will Let us now turn our attention to incorporates exoge-nous components act as an adjunct to the body's own some of the special physiological and extending the self-regulatory control autonomous controls. In this manner, psychologi-cal problems involved in function of the organism in order to these controls can be changed to the space travel, and see how Cyborg dy- adapt it to new environments. desired per-formance characteristics namics may help achieve better If man in space, in addition to under various environmental condi- understanding and utilization of flying his vehicle, must con-tinuously tions. If these characteristics were man's natural abilities. be checking on things and making determined, such a sys-tem would be adjustments merely in order to keep possible today with the selection of Wakefulness. For flights of himself alive, he becomes a slave to appro-priate drugs. relatively short or moderate du- the ma-chine. The purpose of the Cy- ration-a few weeks or even a few borg, as well as his own ho-meostatic For example, systolic blood months-it would appear desirable to systems, is to provi-de an pressure may be sensed, com-pared keep the astronaut continuously organizational sys-tem in which such to a reference value based on the awake and fully alert. The extension robot-like problems are taken care of space conditions en-countered, and of normal functioning through the automatically and unconsciously, regulated by letting the difference use of that group of drugs known as leaving man free to explore, to between sensed and reference psychic energizers, with ad-junctive create, to think, and to feel. pressures control administration of medication, for this purpose is a an adrenergic or vasodilator drug. Of present-day real-ity. In flights lasting One device helpful to con- course, any such system presupposes a month or two, no more than a few sideration of the construction of that we would be cognizant of what hours a day of sleep would be requir- Cyborgs, which is already a-vailable, optimum blood pressure would be ed in the normal environment if such is the ingenious osmo-tic pressure under various space conditions. drugs were employed. Tests indicate pump capsule de-veloped by S. Rose efficiency tends to increase, rather for conti-nuous slow injections of While it is quite difficult to set than decrea-se, under such a regime, bio-chemically active substances at a up per limits to "natural" human and extended usage appears entirely biological rate. The capsule is physiological and psy-chological feasible. incorporated into the organism and performance, we can take as minimal Radiation Effects. One sub- allows administration of a selected the capabilities demonstrated under system of the Cyborg would involve drug at a particular or-gan and at a control conditions such as yoga or a sensor to detect radia-tion levels continuous vari-able rate, without hypnosis. The imagination is and an adaptation of the Rose any attention on the part of the stretched by the muscular con-trol of osmotic pump which would organism. which even the under-graduate at a automatically inject pro-tective Yoga College is capable, and pharmaceuticals in ap-propriate Capsules are already avail-able hypnosis per se may prove to have a doses. Experiments at the AF School which will deliver as little as 0.01 definite place in space travel, of Aviation Me-dicine already ml/day for 200 days, and there is no although there is much to be learned indicate an in-crease in radiation reason why this time could not be about the phenomena of dis- resistance re-sulting from combined extended con-siderably. The sociation, generalization of ins- admi-nistration of aminoethylisothio- apparatus has al-ready been used on tructions, and abdication of executive roninm and cysteine to mon-keys. rabbits and rats, and for continuous control. Metabolic Problems and Hy- hepa-rin injection in man. No un- pothermic Controls. In the case of toward general effect on health was We are now working on a new prolonged space flight, the estimated noted when the injector was buried in preparation which may greatly consumption of 10 lb a day for animals. As long as five years ago, enhance hypnotizability, so that human fuel-2 lb of oxygen, 4 lb of an injector 7 cm long and 1.4 cm in pharmacological and hypnotic fluid, and 4 lb of food-poses a major diame-ter, weighing 15 gm, was suc- approaches may be symbiotically pro-blem. During a flight of a year or cessfully buried under the skin of rats combined. longer, assuming that the ve-hicle weighing 150-250 gin. The photo on was operating satisfactori-ly, there Page 27 shows a rat weighing 220 would be little or no rea gm with an injector in situ. 31/ CYBORGS & SPACE perature, certain enzyme systems son for the astronaut to be awake for would tend to remain more active Muscular Maintenance. long periods unless some emergency than others. The extent to which Prolonged sleep or limited acti,. ity arose. Hypo-thermia (reduc-tion of pharmaceutical or chemical agents has a deleterious effect on muscle body temperature) would appear to could influ-ence this enzyme activity tone. While reduction of body be a desir-able state in such long has not been systematically inves- temperature and metabo. lism may voya-ges in order to reduce me- tigated, but beyond question they will reduce the magnitude of the problem, tabolism, and thus human "fuel" play an important role. Since further investi-gation of the chemical consumption. The use of exter-nal metabolism is subject to enzyme reasons for atrophy appears cooling, reduc-tion of the control, several intri-guing necessary to develop adequate temperature of the blood in an possibilities exist. For example, it pharmaceuti. cal protection to help arterio-venous shunt, and hiber- may be possible through in vitro maintain muscle tone on prolonged nation (through pituitary con-trol), radiation to convert certain space voyages. alone or in combination with organisms from aerobic to anaerobic Perceptual Problems. Lack of pharmaceuticals, all seem to offer states and, by studying changes in the atmosphere will create markedly possibilities in attempting to obtain enzyme systems, to adapt them for different conditions of visual and maintain such a state. Con-trol of eventual human use. In the same perception than those with which we the tempera-ture by influencing the manner, selected atmos-pheres of are familiar. Attention should be heat-re-gulating center would be other types could be investigated. given to providing a medium which more desirable than changing the re- would recreate some of the ference level. Vestibular Function. Diso- distortions to which we are Oxygenization and Carbon rientation or discomfort resulti-ng accustomed, and to which the Dioxide Removal. Breathing in space from disturbed vestibular function astronaut could become acclimated is a pro-blem because the space due to weightlessness might be before takeoff. Part of the problem environment will not provide the handled through the use of drugs, by would come from searching for an necessary oxygen, and respiration temporarily draining off the adequate frame of reference, and in eliminates need-ed carbon dioxide endolymphatic fluid or, alternately, this regard the factors which in- and involves heat and water losses. filling the cavities completely, and fluence autokinesis (and illusory An inverse fuel cell, capable of other techniques involving chemical movement) may have an in-fluence reducing C02 to its components with control. Hypnosis may also be useful on space perception problems. removal of the carbon and recir- for controlling vestibular function. Investigation of whe-ther culation of the oxygen, would pharmaceuticals would in-fluence eliminate the necessity for lung Cardiovascular Control The autokinesis is therefore desirable. breathing. Such a sys-tem, ope-rating application of control-system theory either on solar or nuclear energy, to biology has already yielded Pressure. Under pressure lower would replace the lung, making sufficiently fruitful re-sults in studies than 60 min Hg, man' s blood begins breathing, as we know it, of the multiple homeostatic functions to boil at his normal body unnecessary. Conventional brea-thing of the cardiovascular system to indi- temperature. Therefore, if he is to would still be possible, should the cate the possibility of altering the venture out of his space vehicle environment permit it, discontinuing system by the Cyborg tech-nique. without a pressure suit, some means the fuel-cell operation. Administration of pres-ently must be found of reducing his nor- Fluid Intake and Out-put. Fluid available drugs, such as epinephrine, mal operating temperature to a point balance in the astronaut could be reserpine, digitalis, amphetamine, where the vapor pressure of his fluids largely maintained via a shunt from etc., by means of Rose injectors, is no greater than the internal tissue the ureters to the venous circulation offers one possi-bility of changing pressures. This is another reason why after removal or conversion of the cardio-vascular functions so as to lowering of body temperature is noxious subs-tances. Sterilization of fit them for a particular environ- essential to avoid the use of the gas-trointestinal tract, plus intra- ment. Alteration of the specific constricting pressure suits. venous or direct intragastric feeding, homeostatic references within or could redu-ce fecal eli-mination to a outside the brain, and electric Variations in External minimum, and even this might be stimulation, either as a means of Temperature. While man will require reutilized. regulating heart rate or affecting the protection of a space ship or Enzyme Systems. Under selected brain centers in order to station at the real extremes of conditions of lowered body tem- control cardio-vascular func-tioning, temperature, there are other possibilities. LYNES & KLINE are also likely to be intermediate "desire for action." The structuring of electronically seems the best conditions within or close to the situations so that action has a solution. limits of human tolerance. By meaningful sensory feedback should Other Problems controlling reflection and absorption reduce these difficulties. Here again There obviously exists an by means of pro-tective plastic drugs could play a useful role in equally large number of medical sponge clothing plus chemicals reducing resultant tensions. Action problems amenable to already in exis-tence which produce without demonstration that such pharmacological influence whi-ch changes in pigmentation and provide behavior is purposeful or sensory have not been discussed here for lack effective protection against acti-nic stimuli without op-portunity for of space. Among these are such rays, it should be possible to appropriate response are both highly conditions as nausea, vertigo, motion maintain desired body tem-perature. disturbing. sickness, erotic requirements, Needed is a light-sen-sitive, Psychoses. Despite all the care vibration toleran-ce, etc. chemically regu-lated system which exercised, there remains a strong However, those selected for would adjust to its own reflectance possibility that some-where in the discussion offer an indication as to so as to main-tain the temperature course of a long space voyage a what the Cyborg can mean in terms desired. psychotic episode might occur, and of space travel. Although some of the Gravitation. A change in the this is one condition for which no proposed solutions ratio of gravity and inertia forces to ser-vomechanism can be completely may appear fanciful, it should be molecular forces will alter mobility designed at the present time. While noted that there are references in the patterns, among other things. Body an emergency osmotic pump Soviet techni-cal literature to temperature control and other uses of containing one of the high-potency research in many of these same areas. pharmaceuticals could possibly phenothiazines to-gether with Thus we find the Russians proposing improve functioning under reserpine could be a part of the prior oxygen saturation as a so-lution conditions of greater or lesser complete space man's kit, the to the problem of respiration during gravitation than that on earth. frequent denial by an individual the first few minutes after space Magnetic Fields. Chemicals and undergoing a psy-chotic episode that vehicle laun-chings; reporting on temperature alteration might also act his thought processes, emotions, or alterations of the vestibular function to retard or facili-tate the specific behavior are abnormal, might keep both by drugs and surgery; studying effects of magnetic fields in space. him from voluntarily accepting me- perception and carrying out re-search Sensory Inuariance and Action dication. For this reason, if on the laws of eye mo-tion in vision; Deprivation. Instead of sensory monitoring is adequate, provi-sion finding that lo-wering of temperature deprivation, it is sensory invariance, should be made for trigger-ing can aid in solving pressure problems; or lack of change in sensory stimuli, administration of the medi-cation etc. which may be the astronaut's remotely from earth or by a Solving the many tech- bugaboo. In most of the sensory companion if there is a crew on the nological problems involved in deprivation expe-riments to date, it vehicle. manned space flight by adapt-ing has been sensory invariance which Limbo. The contingency of man to his environment, rather than has produced discomfort and, in possible extreme pain or suf-fering as vice versa, will not only mark a extreme circumstances, led to the a result of unforeseen accidents must significant step forward in man's occurrence of psychotic- like states. also be con-sidered. The astronaut scientific progress, but may well Of even greater sig-nificance may be should therefore be able to elect a provide a new and larger dimension action in-variance, deprivation or state of unconsciousness if he feels it for man's spirit as well. limita-tion, since in many such expe- to be necessary. Prolonged sleep riments subjects have mentioned a induced either pharmacologi-cally or

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