Spaceflight studies provide important clues as to how experience with gravity during development contributes to the establishment of balance and our perception of body position. New insights from NASA's Neurolab mission into how spatial maps in the brain are formed suggest that our understanding of such basic cognitive mechanisms will be greatly enhanced by knowledge of how gravitational information is integrated into this aspect of brain organization. Age-related changes in our sense of balance contribute to many of the dangerous and costly falls sustained by elderly people. Developmental studies of gravitational effects on our bodies and balance can help reduce some of the risks and pains of the aging population. Problems with the balance system can occur in children as well.
Vestibular dysfunction can appear early in human life.
Fetuses with vestibular disorders are prone to breach births. Vestibular dysfunction is a feature of certain developmental disabilities. Developmental studies utilizing gravitational manipulations hold promise for the development of successful therapies and interventions. Progress in developmental biology research in space is slowed by a lack of equipment appropriate for maintaining young animals, and the limited number and length of spaceflights. Reduced research support for ground and flight studies will further impede possibilities for important developmental biology research in space.