EDUCATION San Jose State University BA in Psychology, 1974
San Jose State University MA in Psychology, 1984
University of California, San Francisco PhD in Psychology, 1994
MILITARY U.S. Marine Corps 1964 - 68
CURRENT AND PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT Research Psychologist, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 2001 - present
Staff Research Associate, Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of California, Los Angeles 1992 - 2001
Staff Research Associate, Langley Porter Institute, University of California, San Francisco 1977 - 92
Research Associate, San Jose State University Foundation 1974 - 77
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Coinvestigator, NASA space shuttle flight experiment, “Autogenic Feedback Training: A Preventive Method for Space Adaptation Syndrome 1982 - 85
Coinvestigator, NASA space shuttle flight experiment, “An Evaluation of Procedures and Hardware to Validate AFT as a Treatment for Space Motion Sickness.” 1984 - 85
Coinvestigator, NASA/U.S. Air Force study, “Motion Sickness Assessment of Air Force Astronaut Candidates.” 1984 - 87
Coinvestigator, NASA space shuttle flight experiment, “Autogenic Feedback Training as a Preventive Method for Space Motion Sickness.” 1988 - 92
Coinvestigator, NASA/U.S. Coast Guard and Army study, “Autogenic Feedback Training to Improve Cockpit Crew Coordination.” 1990
Coinvestigator, NASA/U.S. Army study, “An Evaluation of the Frequency and Severity of Motion Sickness Incidences in the Command and Control Vehicle.” 1997
Coinvestigator, NASA/IMBP Russian MIR flight experiment, “Monitoring and Correction of Human Autonomic State During Extended Duration Spaceflight.” 1996
MEMBERSHIPS IN TECHNICAL COMMITTEES Psychology Curriculum Advisory Board at West Valley College, Saratoga, CA. 1994
NASA Investigators Working Group for payload development of Spacelab-J mission. 1988 - 93
DOD Investigators Working Group for payload development of space shuttle mission. 1983 - 86
NASA Investigators Working Group for payload development of Spacelab-3 mission. 1983 - 86
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS American Autonomic Society
Aerospace Medical Association
Society for Psychophysiological Research
Aerospace Human Factors Association
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
AWARDS
1986 NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award, Spacelab-3.
1992 NASA Individual Achievement Award, Spacelab-J.
1993 NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award, Spacelab-J.
2001 NASA Tech Brief Contributory Award, January
2001 NASA Tech Brief Contributory Award, February
2002 NASA Space Act Award, April
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
  1. Cowings, P. S., Billingham, J. and Toscano, W. B. (1977) Learned control of multiple autonomic responses to compensate for the debilitating effects of motion sickness. Therapy in Psychosomatic Medicine, 4, 318-323. Also in (W. Luthe and F. Antonelli Eds.) Autogenic Methods: Application and Perspectives. Rome: Luigi Pozzi S.P.A., 1977. Also in (T.X. Barber, et al. Eds.), Biofeedback and Self-Control 1977/78. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co., 1978. [NOTE: Awarded Best Paper by a Young Investigator, by the Space Medicine Branch of the Aerospace Medical Association. 47th Annual Meeting, Bal Harbor].

  2. Cowings, P.S. and Toscano, W.B. (1977). A theory on the evolutionary significance of psychosomatic disease. Therapy in Psychosomatic Medicine, 4, 184-190. And in (W. Luthe and F. Antonelli, Eds.) Autogenic Methods: Application and Perspective. Rome: Luigi Pozzi S.P.A., 1977.

  3. Cowings, P.S. and Toscano, W.B. (1977). Psychosomatic health: Simultaneous control of multiple autonomic responses by humans - a training method. Therapy in Psychosomatic Medicine, 4, 184-190. And in (W. Luthe and F. Antonelli, Eds.) Autogenic Methods: Application and Perspective. Rome: Luigi Pozzi S.P.A., 1977.

  4. Stewart, J., Clark, B., Cowings, P. S. and Toscano, W. B. (1978). Learned regulation of autonomic responses to control Coriolis motion sickness: its effects on other vestibular functions. Proceedings of the 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, New Orleans, pp. 133-134.

  5. Toscano, W.B. and Cowings, P. S. (1978). Transfer of learned autonomic control for symptom suppression across opposite directions of Coriolis acceleration. Proceedings of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, New Orleans, pp. 132-133.

  6. Cowings, P. S. and Toscano, W. B. (1982). The Relationship of Motion Sickness Susceptibility to Learned Autonomic Control for Symptom Suppression. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. 53, (6), 570-575.

  7. Toscano, W.B. and Cowings, P.S. (1982). Reducing motion sickness: Autogenic- Feedback Training Compared to an Alternative Cognitive Task. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. 53, (5), 449-453.

  8. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J., Miller, N.E. and Sharp, J.C. (1985). Autogenic-Feedback Training as a Preventive Method for Space Adaptation Syndrome. NASA Flight Experiment #3AFT23. Spacelab-3. Progress Report I. NASA Conference Publication #2429: Spacelab 3 Mission Science Review. Pp. 84-89.

  9. Cowings, P.S., Suter, S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J. and Naifeh, K. (1986). General Autonomic Components of Motion Sickness. Psychophysiology, 23, (5), 542-551.

  10. Cowings, P.S., Naifeh, K.H. and Toscano, W.B. (1990) The Stability Of Individual Patterns Of Autonomic Responses To Motion Sickness Stimulation. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, 61, (5), 399-405.

  11. Kellar, M.A., Folen, R.A., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. & Hisert, G.L. (1993) The Effects of Autogenic-Feedback Training on Emergency Flight Performance. NASA Technical Memorandum #104005. Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine. In review.

  12. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Miller, N.E., Pickering, T. and Shapiro, D. (1993). Autogenic feedback training: a potential treatment for orthostatic intolerance. NASA Technical Memorandum # 108785. Also published in Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Vol. 34, (6) 599-608.

  13. Ladd, S.L., Sommer, S.A., LaBerge, S., and Toscano, W.B. (1993). Effect of phosphatidylcholine on explicit memory. Clinical Neuropharmacology 16, (6), 540-549.

  14. Cowings, P., Toscano, W., & Miller, N. (1995). Visceral Learning In The Treatment Of Motion Sickness. Association For Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.

  15. Kornilova, L.N., Cowings. P.S., Toscano, W.B., Arlaschenko, N.I., Korneev, D.Ju., Ponomarenko, A.V., and Kozlovskaya I.B., (1999). Monitoring and correction of cosmonauts’ autonomic responses by autogenic feedback techniques. Aviaspace & Ecology Medicine (Russian journal).

  16. Kornilova, L.N., Cowings. P.S., Toscano, W.B., Arlaschenko, N.I., Korneev, D.Ju., Ponomarenko, A.V., Sagalovitch, S.V., Sarantseva, A.V., and Kozlovskaya, I.B., (1999). Correction of the parameters of autonomous reactions in the organism of cosmonaut with the method of adaptive biocontrol. Aviaspace & Ecology Medicine (Russian journal). 34 (3), 66- 69.

  17. Kornilova, L.N., Cowings. P.S., Arlaschenko, N.I., Toscano, W.B., and Kozlovskaya I.B., (1999). Effect of autogenic feedback on cosmonauts’ vestibular function and autonomic responses. Aviaspace & Ecology Medicine (Russian journal).

  18. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., DeRoshia, C., Miller, N.E. (2000). Promethazine as a motion sickness treatment: impact on human performance and mood states. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. 71(10), 1013-32.

  19. Cowings, P.S., Toscano W.B. (2000) Autogenic feedback training exercise is superior to promethazine for the treatment of motion sickness. Journal of Clincal Pharmacology 40 (10):1154-1165.

  20. Kuriyama, K., Ueno, T., Ballard, R.E., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Watenpaugh, D.E., Hargens, A.R. (2000). Cerebrovascular responses during lower body negative pressure- induced presyncope. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. 71(10), 1033-1038.

  21. Cowings, P.S., Keller M.A., Folen, R.A., Toscano, W.B., Burge, J.D. (2001). Autogenic feedback training and pilot performance: enhanced functioning under search and rescue flying conditions. International Journal of Aviation Psychology. 11(3), 305-315.

  22. Hani Rashed, MD, Teresa Cutts, PhD, Thomas Abell, MD, Patricia Cowings, PhD, William Toscano, PhD, Ahmed El-Gammal, MD and Dima Adl, MD. (2001). Predictors of response to a behavioral treatment in patients with chronic gastric motility disorders. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 47 (5), 1020-1026.

  23. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., DeRoshia, C., and Tauson, R. (2001) Effects of Command and Control Vehicle (C2V) operational environment on soldier health and performance. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments. 5(2), 66-91.
NON-PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
  1. Cowings, P. S., Toscano, W. B., Kamiya, J., Miller, N. E. and Sharp, J. C. (1988). Final Report. Spacelab-3 Flight Experiment #3AFT23: Autogenic- Feedback Training As A Preventive Method for Space Adaptation Syndrome. NASA Technical Memorandum #89412. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California.

  2. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J., Miller, N.E., Pickering, T. and Shapiro, D. (1990). Autogenic-Feedback Training as a Countermeasure for Orthostatic Intolerance. Proceedings of the First Joint NASA Cardiopulmonary Workshop - Houston, TX. NASA Conference Publication #10068. Pp. 145-153

  3. Kellar, M.A., Folen, R.A., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. & Hisert, G.L. (1993) Autogenic-Feedback Training Improves Pilot Performance During Emergency Flying Conditions. NASA Technical Memorandum #104005. NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. Also published in Flight Safety Digest July, 1993.

    .
  4. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. (1993). Autogenic-Feedback Training (AFT) as a Preventive Method For Space Motion Sickness: Background and Experimental Design. NASA Technical Memorandum # 108780 Paper to be submitted to Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine.

  5. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J., Miller, N.E., Pickering, T. and Shapiro, D. (1993). Autogenic feedback training: a potential treatment for postflight orthostatic intolerance in aerospace crews. NASA Technical Memorandum 108785.

  6. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Miller, N.E., & Reynoso, S.M. (1993). Autogenic-Feedback Training As a Treatment For Air-Sickness in High Performance Military Aircraft: Two Case Studies. NASA Technical Memorandum #108810.

  7. Stout, C.S., Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. (1993). Reliability of Autonomic Responses and Malaise Across Multiple Motion Sickness Stimulation Tests. NASA Technical Memorandum # 108787. Also published in J. Vestibular Research, 5, (1), 25-33.

  8. Toscano, W.B., & P. Cowings (1994). The Effects of Autogenic-Feedback Training On Motion Sickness Severity and Heart Rate Variability in Astornauts. NASA Technical Memorandum #108840.

  9. Cowings, P.S., Stout, C.S., Toscano, W.B., Reynoso, S., DeRoshia, C., and Miller, N.E. (1996). The effects of promethazine on human performance, mood states, and motion sickness tolerance. NASA Technical Memorandum 110420.

  10. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., DeRoshia, W. (1998). An evaluation of the frequency and severity of motion sickness incidences in personnel within the Command and Control Vehicle (C2V). NASA Technical Memorandum 112221.

  11. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., DeRoshia, C., Tauson, R. (1999) Effects of Command and Control Vehicle (C2V) operational environment on soldier health and performance. NASA Technical Memorandum 1999-208786.

  12. Cowings, P.S. Toscano, W.B. NASA Space Technology Can Improve Soldier Performance. Army A L & T, PB 70-00-5, pages 15-17, September-October 2000.

  13. Cowings, P.S, Jensen, S., Bergner, D., Toscano, W.B. A Lightweight Ambulatory Physiological Monitoring System. NASA Tech Briefs, Vol 25, No. 1, January, 2001.

  14. Cowings, P.S. Taylor, B. Toscano, W.B. A Personal Computer-Based Physiological Training System. NASA Tech Briefs, Vol 25, No. 2, February, 2001.

  15. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. Improving Operational Readiness on Earth and in Space: Autogenic Feedback Training Exercise. Proceedings of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Conference on International Space Station Utilization, Cape Canaveral, Florida, October 15-18, 2001

  16. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S., DeRoshia, C. Sleep Deprivation Effects on Human Functional State. NASA Research and Technology 2002 #
PRESENTATIONS
  1. Stewart, J., Clark, B., Cowings, P. S. and Toscano, W. B. (1978) Learned regulation of autonomic responses to control Coriolis motion sickness: its effects on other vestibular functions. 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, New Orleans, May 1978.

  2. Toscano, W.B. and Cowings, P. S. (1978) Transfer of learned autonomic control for symptom suppression across opposite directions of Coriolis acceleration. 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, New Orleans, May, 1978.

  3. Cowings, P.S. and Toscano, W.B. (1984) Shuttle flight experiment: A test of autogenic feedback training in space. 15th Annual Meeting of the Biofeedback Society of America. Albuquerque, March 23-28, 1984.

  4. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Suter, S., Kamiya, J. and Naifeh, K. (1984). Visceral learning and the Space Adaptation Syndrome. Paper presented at the 9th Annual Symposium on the Role of Psychology in the Department of Defense, USAF Academy, Colorado Springs. April 18-20.

  5. Cowings, P.S. and Toscano, W.B. (1984). Shuttle flight experiment #3AFT23: A test of Autogenic-Feedback Training in space. Paper presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the Biofeedback Society of America. Albuquerque, March 23-28.

  6. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J., Miller, N.E. and Sharp, J.C. (1987). Autogenic-Feedback Training as a preventive method for space adaptation syndrome on Space- lab 3. Paper presented at the at Space Life Sciences Symposium: Three Decades of Life Science Research In Space, Washington, D.C., June 21-26, 1987.

  7. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Kamiya, J. and Miller, N.E. (1989). A Behavioral Medicine Alternative: Autogenic-Feedback Training as a Treatment for Space Motion Sickness. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Biofeedback Society of California, Los Angeles, November 11.

  8. Toscano, W.B. and Cowings, P.S. (1990) The Effect of Training Schedule on Learned Suppression of Motion Sickness Symptoms Using Autogenic- Feedback Training. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, New Orleans, May 13-17.

  9. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. (1993) Heart rate variability of humans in space. Paper presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, Toronto, May 23-27. NASA Technical Memorandum in progress.

  10. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Miller, N.E., Stout, C, Reynoso, S. (1993) The Effects of Promethazine on: Psychological Responses, Performance and Susceptibility to Motion Sickness. Poster presentation at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. Germany, October 27- 31.

  11. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. & Miller, N.E. (1993). Monitoring Astronauts' Functional State: Autonomic Responses to Microgravity. Poster presentation at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. Germany, October 27-31.

  12. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Miller, N.E. (1993) A Behavioral Medicine Approach to Facilitating Adaptation to Space: Autogenic-Feedback Training. Poster presentation at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. Germany, October 27-31.

  13. Stout, C. S., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. (1993) The Assessment of Motion Sickness Symptoms and Automonic Responses: A Single Subject Design. Poster presentation at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research. Germany, October 27-31.

  14. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. (1993) Autonomic responses to microgravity. IV International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System. Rochester, October 20-23, 1993.

  15. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Sekiguchi, C. & Ishii, M. (1994). Preflight AFT for control of space motion sickness: SPACELAB-J. Paper presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association, Toronto, May 23-27. NASA Technical Memorandum in progress.

  16. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. (1994). The Effects of Autonomic Conditioning on Motion Sickness Tolerance. Paper presented at the Fifth International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, October 20-23.

  17. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Miller, N.E., Pickering, T.G. & Shapiro, D. (1994). A Potential Treatment For Post-Flight Orthostatic Intolerance in Aerospace Crews: Autogenic-Feedback Training. Paper presented at the Fifth International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, October 20-23.

  18. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. (1994). Heart Rate Variability During Early Adaptation to Space. Paper presented at the Fifth International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, October 20-23.

  19. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. (1996) Monitoring and correction of human autonomic state during spaceflight. VII International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System. Toronto, October 12-15, 1996.

  20. Rashed, H., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Rebello, E., Abell, T. Cardoso, S. (1997) Case report: Autogenic feedback training exercise as a potential treatment for dysautonomia. VIII International Symposium on the Autonomic Nervous System, Honolulu, October 1997, abstract in Clinical Autonomic Research, 7, 253.

  21. Rashed, H., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Abell. T. Cardoso, S. (1998) Autogenic feedback training exercise as a potential treatment for the symptoms of gastroparesis. Annual Meeting of Digestive Disease Weekly, New Orleans, May 1998.

  22. DeRoshia, C., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B. (2000) Effects of U.S. Army command and control vehicle (C2V) operational environment upon human performance. 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. May 16, 2000, Houston, abstract in Aviation,.Space and Environmental Medicine. 71(3):306.

  23. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., DeRoshia, C., Tauson, R. (2000) Motion sickness in the command and control vehicle (C2V) - space technology applied on Earth. 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. May 16, 2000, Houston, abstract in Aviation. Space and Environmental Medicine. 71(3):334.

  24. Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., Taylor, B., Kornilova, L.P., Koslovskaya, I.B., Sagalovich, S.V., Ponomarenko, A.V., DeRoshia, C., Miller, N.E. (2000) Control of autonomic responses during long duration spaceflight - two case studies. 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association .May 16, 2000, Houston, abstract in Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine 71(3):344.

  25. Rashed, H., Cowings, P.S., Toscano, W.B., El-Gammmal, A., Abell, T. (2000) NASA biofeedback training as a potential treatment for patients with chronic G.I. symptoms. Annual Meeting of Digestive Disease Weekly, San Diego, May 2000.

  26. Toscano, W.B., Cowings, P.S. (2001) Converging indicators are optimal for assessing environmental effects on crew health, performance and safety. Human Systems 2001 Conference, Houston, June 2001.