Our research in the media

April 2025

How Gravity Shapes Movement: Breakthrough Research

One of the fundamental questions in neuroscience is how the brain controls movement in different environments. 

For over 21 years, Philippe Lefèvre (ICTEAM, EPL UCLouvain), Jean-Louis Thonnard (IoNS, UCLouvain) and their teams have studied how we manipulate objects, both on Earth and in space. 

Their latest research, conducted with ESA and 11 ISS astronauts, reveals a surprising finding: On Earth, the brain relies on gravity as a reference point to coordinate eye and hand movements. In microgravity, this coordination is disrupted, leading to systematic movement errors. 

It shows that gravity is not just something we fight against, it’s something our brain actively uses to guide movement.

The findings have far-reaching implications, from improving stroke rehabilitation therapies to designing advanced prosthetics and preparing astronauts for long-duration space missions.

Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, this study highlights ICTEAM’s leadership in biomedical engineering, neuroscience and movement science. 

Read the article in Le Soir: "Comprendre la motricité humaine grâce à l’ingénierie belge… dans l’espace".
RTBF Auvio Replay: Journal télévisé 19h30, 6 avril 2025