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 and correlates of 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 related to spaceflight and validated ground-based analogues. Our activation likelihood estimation (ALE) analysis identified a predominantly right-lateralized network cantered on primary sensorimotor cortices, including the precentral and postcentral gyri, as well as the insula and opercular cortex. The observed alterations in brain dynamics likely represent neuroplastic adaptations to the absence or alteration of gravitational signals, facilitating recalibration of internal models that predict and compensate for gravity’s influence on perception and motor behaviour.