Gravitational Influence on Human Cognition and Behavior: Emerging Research

How does gravity affect human cognition and behavior? Gravity is an omnipresent force on Earth, deeply embedded in daily life and often taken for granted. However, with the increasing possibility of space travel and exposure to varying gravitational environments, it's timely and necessary to re-evaluate gravity's impact on cognition and behavior. Extensive research in movement and cognitive sciences has focused on this force. Studies in motor control have uncovered optimized mechanisms of human movement that capitalize on gravity in our everyday 1G environment. Additional research has explored how humans perceive their bodies in relation to gravitational orientation, interact with falling objects, and manage body control under various gravitational conditions. Although numerous review papers have systematically covered these topics, discoveries continue to emerge.

Whether for space travel or earth-life applications understanding how gravity affects human movement and cognition is paramount. Research on how altered gravity impacts these areas can assist in designing equipment and protocols that ensure the well-being and efficiency of travelers and astronauts. It also has practical implications for rehabilitation and robotics. For instance, this knowledge can enhance rehabilitation strategies for individuals recovering from injuries that affect motor control, particularly in conditions related to muscle weakness and/or imbalance. Moreover, it can aid engineers in designing robots that better mimic human movement by incorporating the principles of gravity-leveraged motor control, potentially enhancing human-robot interactions and the quality of human life on Earth.

This Collection seeks to enhance our comprehensive understanding by presenting the latest findings on gravity's impact in movement and cognitive sciences. Achieving a well-rounded perspective requires employing various methodologies, including experimental psychology, neurophysiology, computational analysis, surveys, and qualitative approaches. The scope of this topic includes motor control, motor learning, cognition, perception, neuroscience, biomechanics, sports science, rehabilitation, and robotics. We invite papers that explore the integration of gravity and related themes across all these disciplines.

Contributions may include but are not limited to:

• Experimental insights into the psychological effects of gravity;
• neurophysiological research on the integration of gravity in cognitive processes;
• computational models of behavior under different gravitational conditions;
• systematic reviews on the behavioral adaptations to microgravity;
• studies on cognitive challenges and solutions for long-duration space missions.

By highlighting the latest research and encouraging interdisciplinary approaches, we hope to update and deepen our knowledge for practical applications that improve human life both on Earth and in space.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Gravity, space, motor control, motor learning, perception, cognition, biomechanics, sports, rehabilitation, robotics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.