Editorial: The Effects of Altered Gravity on Physiology

In physiology, a graded dose-response curve relates the stimulus input to a specific measured output. Space studies in humans and animals have provided only a snapshot into understanding the role of gravity on physiological responses. Fully understanding this relationship, including adaptive mechanisms, will provide the information required to ensure normal physiological function in crew for long-duration space missions (Clément, 2017). Various methods can be used for generating altered gravity, including orbital flight, parabolic flight, head down/up tilt, body loading/unloading, and centrifugation (Richter et al.). In this Frontiers in Physiology Research Topic, ten papers have used these various methods for studying the effects of altered gravity on sensorimotor, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and cerebrovascular responses in humans and rodents.