The human brain in space: a meta-analysis of neuroimaging evidence

Human space exploration is progressing into an unprecedented era characterized by extended-duration missions, the establishment of permanent lunar bases, and planned crewed voyages to Mars. These activities introduce important physiological challenges, primarily driven by exposure to altered gravity environments. Microgravity disrupts vestibular input, generating sensory conflicts that impair spatial orientation, motor coordination, and cognitive performance. Although adaptation to such conditions involves neuroplasticity, the precise neural mechanisms underlying altered gravity exposure remain unclear.

To address this knowledge gap, we performed a coordinate-based meta-analysis of 15 neuroimaging studies examining functional brain changes associated with spaceflight and validated ground-based analogs. Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) was used to identify convergent patterns of brain activity across studies.

The analysis revealed a predominantly right-lateralized network centred on primary sensorimotor cortices, including the precentral and postcentral gyri, as well as the insula and opercular cortex.

These findings suggest that alterations in brain dynamics reflect neuroplastic adaptations to the absence or modification of gravitational signals, supporting the recalibration of internal models that predict and compensate for gravity's influence on perception and motor behaviour.