Showing papers on "Motion sickness published in 2021"
TL;DR: It is supported that VR sickness produces unequal effects across multiple individual differences, and these effects appear resilient across applications of VR programs, and further research is needed to develop theory and identify explanatory mechanisms that detail these relationships.
Abstract: Practical applications of virtual reality (VR), defined as a three-dimensional digital representation of a real or imagined space, have become increasingly popular and are now applied in workplace training, physical rehabilitation, psychological therapy, and many other settings. Feelings akin to motion sickness, called VR sickness, can arise from interacting with VR programs, and researchers have shown that certain aspects of the user, such as gender and age, may predict the occurrence of VR sickness. The unequal effects of VR sickness are a dire concern and the application of VR is unfair to certain users if they are prone to sickness. For instance, a workplace VR training program could result in disparate treatment if women experience more VR sickness than men. To investigate this notion, we perform a meta-analysis on the relationship between VR sickness and a wide array of potential antecedents. The results demonstrate that motion sickness susceptibility, gender, real-world experience, technological experience, possessing a neurological disorder, and possessing a relevant phobia all significantly relate to VR sickness; however, no moderating effects produced recurrent significant results. These results were partially explained by the current dominant framework for VR sickness, postural instability theory, but some findings were not predicted by the theory. Therefore, we support that (a) VR sickness produces unequal effects across multiple individual differences; (b) these effects appear resilient across applications of VR programs, and (c) further research is needed to develop theory and identify explanatory mechanisms that detail these relationships.
43 citations
TL;DR: The diagnostic criteria for motion sickness and VIMS include adverse reactions elicited during exposure to physical motion or visual motion leading to observable signs or symptoms of greater than minimal severity as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: We present diagnostic criteria for motion sickness, visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), motion sickness disorder (MSD), and VIMS disorder (VIMSD) to be included in the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders. Motion sickness and VIMS are normal physiological responses that can be elicited in almost all people, but susceptibility and severity can be high enough for the response to be considered a disorder in some cases. This report provides guidelines for evaluating signs and symptoms caused by physical motion or visual motion and for diagnosing an individual as having a response that is severe enough to constitute a disorder.The diagnostic criteria for motion sickness and VIMS include adverse reactions elicited during exposure to physical motion or visual motion leading to observable signs or symptoms of greater than minimal severity in the following domains: nausea and/or gastrointestinal disturbance, thermoregulatory disruption, alterations in arousal, dizziness and/or vertigo, headache and/or ocular strain. These signs/symptoms occur during the motion exposure, build as the exposure is prolonged, and eventually stop after the motion ends. Motion sickness disorder and VIMSD are diagnosed when recurrent episodes of motion sickness or VIMS are reliably triggered by the same or similar stimuli, severity does not significantly decrease after repeated exposure, and signs/symptoms lead to activity modification, avoidance behavior, or aversive emotional responses. Motion sickness/MSD and VIMS/VIMSD can occur separately or together. Severity of symptoms in reaction to physical motion or visual motion stimuli varies widely and can change within an individual due to aging, adaptation, and comorbid disorders. We discuss the main methods for measuring motion sickness symptoms, the situations conducive to motion sickness and VIMS, and the individual traits associated with increased susceptibility. These additional considerations will improve diagnosis by fostering accurate measurement and understanding of the situational and personal factors associated with MSD and VIMSD.
40 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a multimetric system called BioVRSea based on virtual reality (VR), a mechanical platform and several biomedical sensors was introduced to study the physiology associated with motion sickness and seasickness.
Abstract: Motion sickness (MS) and postural control (PC) conditions are common complaints among those who passively travel. Many theories explaining a probable cause for MS have been proposed but the most prominent is the sensory conflict theory, stating that a mismatch between vestibular and visual signals causes MS. Few measurements have been made to understand and quantify the interplay between muscle activation, brain activity, and heart behavior during this condition. We introduce here a novel multimetric system called BioVRSea based on virtual reality (VR), a mechanical platform and several biomedical sensors to study the physiology associated with MS and seasickness. This study reports the results from 28 individuals: the subjects stand on the platform wearing VR goggles, a 64-channel EEG dry-electrode cap, two EMG sensors on the gastrocnemius muscles, and a sensor on the chest that captures the heart rate (HR). The virtual environment shows a boat surrounded by waves whose frequency and amplitude are synchronized with the platform movement. Three measurement protocols are performed by each subject, after each of which they answer the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire. Nineteen parameters are extracted from the biomedical sensors (5 from EEG, 12 from EMG and, 2 from HR) and 13 from the questionnaire. Eight binary indexes are computed to quantify the symptoms combining all of them in the Motion Sickness Index (I MS ). These parameters create the MS database composed of 83 measurements. All indexes undergo univariate statistical analysis, with EMG parameters being most significant, in contrast to EEG parameters. Machine learning (ML) gives good results in the classification of the binary indexes, finding random forest to be the best algorithm (accuracy of 74.7 for I MS ). The feature importance analysis showed that muscle parameters are the most relevant, and for EEG analysis, beta wave results were the most important. The present work serves as the first step in identifying the key physiological factors that differentiate those who suffer from MS from those who do not using the novel BioVRSea system. Coupled with ML, BioVRSea is of value in the evaluation of PC disruptions, which are among the most disturbing and costly health conditions affecting humans.
33 citations
TL;DR: It is noted that knowledge of an individuals’ previous motion sickness response to sickening stimuli increases individual modeling accuracy by a factor of 2 when compared to group-based modeling, indicating individual repeatability.
Abstract: We investigated and modeled the temporal evolution of motion sickness in a highly dynamic sickening drive. Slalom maneuvers were performed in a passenger vehicle, resulting in lateral accelerations of 0.4 g at 0.2 Hz, to which participants were subjected as passengers for up to 30 min. Subjective motion sickness was recorded throughout the sickening drive using the MISC scale. In addition, physiological and postural responses were evaluated by recording head roll, galvanic skin response (GSR) and electrocardiography (ECG). Experiment 1 compared external vision (normal view through front and side car windows) to internal vision (obscured view through front and side windows). Experiment 2 tested hypersensitivity with a second exposure a few minutes after the first drive and tested repeatability of individuals’ sickness responses by measuring these two exposures three times in three successive sessions. An adapted form of Oman’s model of nausea was used to quantify sickness development, repeatability, and motion sickness hypersensitivity at an individual level. Internal vision was more sickening compared to external vision with a higher mean MISC (4.2 vs. 2.3), a higher MISC rate (0.59 vs. 0.10 min−1) and more dropouts (66% vs. 33%) for whom the experiment was terminated due to reaching a MISC level of 7 (moderate nausea). The adapted Oman model successfully captured the development of sickness, with a mean model error, including the decay during rest and hypersensitivity upon further exposure, of 11.3%. Importantly, we note that knowledge of an individuals’ previous motion sickness response to sickening stimuli increases individual modeling accuracy by a factor of 2 when compared to group-based modeling, indicating individual repeatability. Head roll did not vary significantly with motion sickness. ECG varied slightly with motion sickness and time. GSR clearly varied with motion sickness, where the tonic and phasic GSR increased 42.5% and 90%, respectively, above baseline at high MISC levels, but GSR also increased in time independent of motion sickness, accompanied with substantial scatter.
28 citations
24 Feb 2021
TL;DR: The results showed that motion sickness susceptibility and simulator sickness are related, and neuroticism may be associated and predict simulator sickness, and people who are more used to playing videogames are less susceptible to simulator sickness.
Abstract: Many studies have attempted to understand which individual differences may be related to the symptoms of discomfort during the virtual experience (simulator sickness) and the generally considered positive sense of being inside the simulated scene (sense of presence). Nevertheless, a very limited number of studies have employed modern consumer-oriented head-mounted displays (HMDs). These systems aim to produce a high the sense of the presence of the user, remove stimuli from the external environment, and provide high definition, photo-realistic, three-dimensional images. Our results showed that motion sickness susceptibility and simulator sickness are related, and neuroticism may be associated and predict simulator sickness. Furthermore, the results showed that people who are more used to playing videogames are less susceptible to simulator sickness; female participants reported more simulator sickness compared to males (but only for nausea-related symptoms). Female participants also experienced a higher sense of presence compared to males. We suggest that published findings on simulator sickness and the sense of presence in virtual reality environments need to be replicated with the use of modern HMDs.
26 citations
TL;DR: A sensitivity-based sensory predictor of motion sickness is identified that can be used to personalize VR experiences and mitigate discomfort and is speculated that previously reported sex differences might have been due to poor personalization of VR displays.
25 citations
TL;DR: This research has successfully identified a new method to reduce motion sickness susceptibility and the impact of these findings have wide reaching implications for motion sickness research, especially in the field of self-driving vehicles.
18 citations
TL;DR: In this article, two studies were conducted to develop and validate a questionnaire to estimate individual susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), which is a common side effect of VIMS.
Abstract: ObjectiveTwo studies were conducted to develop and validate a questionnaire to estimate individual susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness (VIMS).BackgroundVIMS is a common side-effect w...
18 citations
26 Feb 2021
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the 6-item Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ) and other predictors for individual susceptibility to VIMS.
Abstract: BACKGROUND The introduction of new visual technologies increases the risk of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). The aim was to evaluate the 6-item Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ; also known as the VIMSSQ-short) and other predictors for individual susceptibility to VIMS.
METHODS Healthy participants (10M+20F), mean age 22.9 (SD 5.0) years, viewed a 360° panoramic city scene projected in the visual equivalent to the situation of rotating about an axis tilted from the vertical. The scene rotated at 0.2Hz (72° s-1), with a ‘wobble’ produced by superimposed 18° tilt on the rotational axis, with a field of view of 83.5°. Exposure was 10 min or until moderate nausea was reported. Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was the index of VIMS. Predictors/correlates were VIMSSQ, Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ), Migraine (scale), Syncope, Social & Work Impact of Dizziness (SWID), Sleep quality/disturbance, Personality (‘Big Five’ TIPI), a prior multisensory Stepping-Vection test, and Vection during exposure.
RESULTS The VIMSSQ had good scale reliability (Cronbach’s alpha=0.84). and correlated significantly with the SSQ (r=0.58). Higher MSSQ, Migraine, Syncope & SWID also correlated significantly with SSQ. Other variables had no significant relationships with SSQ. Regression models showed that the VIMSSQ predicted 34% of the individual variation of VIMS, increasing to 56% as MSSQ, Migraine, Syncope and SWID were incorporated as additional predictors.
CONCLUSIONS The VIMSSQ is a useful adjunct to the MSSQ in predicting VIMS. Other predictors included Migraine, Syncope & SWID. No significant relationship was observed between Vection and VIMS.
16 citations
TL;DR: The absence of differences between conditions suggests a ceiling effect: providing a regular view may limit motion sickness, but presentation of additional visual information beyond this does not further reduce sickness.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated EEG for its reliability and found specific waves and areas that showed good consistency and significant changes associated with VR sickness, which may support further research of VR sickness evaluation.
09 Sep 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, a rear-seat VR field study (N=21) on a city highway, the authors found a head movement range of ± 50° with a speed of 1.95m/s to provide the best tradeoff between motion sickness and engagement.
Abstract: In autonomous cars, drivers will spend more time on non-driving-related activities. Getting their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, the driver, similar to a rear-seat passenger today, can use multiple built-in displays for such activities or even mobile head-mounted displays (HMDs) in virtual reality (VR). A wider motion range is known to increase engagement, but might also amplify the risk of motion sickness while switching between displays. In a rear-seat VR field study (N=21) on a city highway, we found a head movement range of ± 50° with a speed of 1.95m/s to provide the best trade-off between motion sickness and engagement. Compared to the pitch (Y) axis, movement around the yaw (X) axis induced less discomfort and more engagement with less motion sickness. Our work provides a concrete starting point for future research on self-driving carsickness, starting from today’s rear-seat passengers.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared motion perception thresholds and the vegetative response to rotatory motion, as well as the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during rotation in VM patients compared to healthy controls.
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Vestibular migraine (VM) patients are ictally and interictally hypersensitive for self-motion and visual perception. Increased cortical excitability of the vestibular system represented by lowered motion perception thresholds might play an important role in the pathophysiology of VM. We aimed to compare motion perception thresholds and the vegetative response to rotatory motion, as well as the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during rotation in VM patients compared to healthy controls (HC). METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 28 female VM patients in the interictal state and 33 age- and gender-matched HC were investigated sitting in a motorized rotary chair shielded regarding visual and acoustic stimuli for 20 min with slowly increasing velocity (maximum = 72°/s). The motion perception threshold was indicated by the participants by pushing a button. During and after rotation, participants rated the presence and extent of motion sickness using a sickness rating scale. RESULTS We detected lower motion perception thresholds (7.54°/s vs. 23.49°/s; p < 0.001) in VM patients compared to HC but no difference at the basic VOR thresholds. Furthermore, the patients showed enhanced susceptibility to motion sickness during and after the rotation. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence for decreased motion perception thresholds and pronounced susceptibility to motion sickness in VM patients in the interictal state, which could indicate alterations in higher levels of vestibular processing. Future studies should determine whether this could be the pathophysiological hallmark of VM either as a unique disease entity or in differentiation from other forms of migraine.
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of cognition in motion sickness was examined in healthy human participants who were seated on a stationary rotary chair inside a rotating optokinetic drum and found that motion sickness is correlated with the discrepancy between participants' perceived self-motion and participants' beliefs about the actual motion.
Abstract: Illusory self-motion often provokes motion sickness, which is commonly explained in terms of an inter-sensory conflict that is not in accordance with previous experience. Here we address the influence of cognition in motion sickness and show that such a conflict is not provocative when the observer believes that the motion illusion is indeed actually occurring. Illusory self-motion and motion sickness were elicited in healthy human participants who were seated on a stationary rotary chair inside a rotating optokinetic drum. Participants knew that both chair and drum could rotate but were unaware of the actual motion stimulus. Results showed that motion sickness was correlated with the discrepancy between participants’ perceived self-motion and participants’ beliefs about the actual motion. Together with the general motion sickness susceptibility, this discrepancy accounted for 51% of the variance in motion sickness intensity. This finding sheds a new light on the causes of visually induced motion sickness and suggests that it is not governed by an inter-sensory conflict per se, but by beliefs concerning the actual self-motion. This cognitive influence provides a promising tool for the development of new countermeasures.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the possibilities of assessing motion sickness with electrogastrography (EGG), a non-invasive method used to measure the myoelectric activity of the stomach, and its potential usage in autonomous vehicles.
Abstract: Autonomous vehicles are expected to take complete control of the driving process, enabling the former drivers to act as passengers only. This could lead to increased sickness as they can be engaged in tasks other than driving. Adopting different sickness mitigation techniques gives us unique types of motion sickness in autonomous vehicles to be studied. In this paper, we report on a study where we explored the possibilities of assessing motion sickness with electrogastrography (EGG), a non-invasive method used to measure the myoelectric activity of the stomach, and its potential usage in autonomous vehicles (AVs). The study was conducted in a high-fidelity driving simulator with a virtual reality (VR) headset. There separate EGG measurements were performed: before, during and after the driving AV simulation video in VR. During the driving, the participants encountered two driving environments: a straight and less dynamic highway road and a highly dynamic and curvy countryside road. The EGG signal was recorded with a proprietary 3-channel recording device and Ag/AgCl cutaneous electrodes. In addition, participants were asked to signalize whenever they felt uncomfortable and nauseated by pressing a special button. After the drive they completed also the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and reported on their overall subjective perception of sickness symptoms. The EGG results showed a significant increase of the dominant frequency (DF) and the percentage of the high power spectrum density (FSD) as well as a significant decrease of the power spectrum density Crest factor (CF) during the AV simulation. The vast majority of participants reported nausea during more dynamic conditions, accompanied by an increase in the amplitude and the RMS value of EGG. Reported nausea occurred simultaneously with the increase in EGG amplitude. Based on the results, we conclude that EGG could be used for assessment of motion sickness in autonomous vehicles. DF, CF and FSD can be used as overall sickness indicators, while the relative increase in amplitude of EGG signal and duration of that increase can be used as short-term sickness indicators where the driving environment may affect the driver.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate the behavioral and neuronal responses of patients with migraine to a visual simulation of self-motion through a virtual roller coaster ride in comparison to controls, and find that patients with migraines will perceive more motion sickness and that it correlates with different central processing and brain responses.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the behavioral and neuronal responses of patients with migraine to a visual simulation of self-motion through a virtual roller coaster ride in comparison to controls. Methods Twenty consecutive patients with migraine from a university-based hospital headache clinic and 20 controls were included. Participants underwent an experiment where a visually displayed self-motion paradigm was presented based on customized roller coaster videos during fMRI. Within each video, blocks of motion stimulation were interleaved with low-speed upward motion in a random order. In the scanning intervals and after the experiment, participants rated their perceived level of vestibular symptoms and motion sickness during the videos. We hypothesized that patients with migraine will perceive more motion sickness and that it correlates with different central processing and brain responses. Results Compared to controls, patients with migraine reported more dizziness (65% vs 30%; p = 0.03) and motion sickness (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire score 47.3 [95% confidence interval (CI), 37.1, 57.5] vs 24.3 [95% CI, 18.2, 30.4]) as well as longer symptom duration (01:19 minutes [95% CI, 00:51, 01:48] vs 00:27 minutes [95% CI, 00:03, 00:51]) and intensity (visual analogue scale score 0–100, 22.0 [95% CI, 14.8, 29.2] vs 9.9 [95% CI, 4.9, 14.7]) during the virtual roller coaster ride. Neuronal activity in patients with migraine was more pronounced in clusters within the superior (contrast estimate 3.005 [90% CI, 1.817, 4.194]) and inferior occipital gyrus (contrast estimate 1.759 [90% CI, 1.062, 2.456]), pontine nuclei (contrast estimate 0.665 [90% CI, 0.383, 0.946]), and within the cerebellar lobules V/VI (contrast estimate 0.672 [90% CI, 0.380, 0.964]), while decreased activity was seen in the cerebellar lobule VIIb (contrast estimate 0.787 [90% CI, 0.444, 1.130]) and in the middle frontal gyrus (contrast estimate 0.962 [90% CI, 0.557, 1.367]). These activations correlated with migraine disability (r = −0.46, p = 0.04) and motion sickness scores (r = 0.32, p = 0.04). We found enhanced connectivity between the pontine nuclei, cerebellar areas V/VI, and interior and superior occipital gyrus with numerous cortical areas in patients with migraine but not in controls. Conclusions Migraine is related to abnormal modulation of visual motion stimuli within superior and inferior occipital gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, pontine nuclei, and cerebellar lobules V, VI, and VIIb. These abnormalities relate to migraine disability and motion sickness susceptibility.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used well-established paradigms to relate motion perception and motion sickness on an individual level and found a strong positive correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and general motion sickness sensitivity.
Abstract: Previous literature suggests a relationship between individual characteristics of motion perception and the peak frequency of motion sickness sensitivity. Here, we used well-established paradigms to relate motion perception and motion sickness on an individual level. We recruited 23 participants to complete a two-part experiment. In the first part, we determined individual velocity storage time constants from perceived rotation in response to Earth Vertical Axis Rotation (EVAR) and subjective vertical time constants from perceived tilt in response to centrifugation. The cross-over frequency for resolution of the gravito-inertial ambiguity was derived from our data using the Multi Sensory Observer Model (MSOM). In the second part of the experiment, we determined individual motion sickness frequency responses. Participants were exposed to 30-minute sinusoidal fore-aft motions at frequencies of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 Hz, with a peak amplitude of 2 m/s2 in five separate sessions, approximately 1 week apart. Sickness responses were recorded using both the MIsery SCale (MISC) with 30 s intervals, and the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) at the end of the motion exposure. The average velocity storage and subjective vertical time constants were 17.2 s (STD = 6.8 s) and 9.2 s (STD = 7.17 s). The average cross-over frequency was 0.21 Hz (STD = 0.10 Hz). At the group level, there was no significant effect of frequency on motion sickness. However, considerable individual variability was observed in frequency sensitivities, with some participants being particularly sensitive to the lowest frequencies, whereas others were most sensitive to intermediate or higher frequencies. The frequency of peak sensitivity did not correlate with the velocity storage time constant (r = 0.32, p = 0.26) or the subjective vertical time constant (r = − 0.37, p = 0.29). Our prediction of a significant correlation between cross-over frequency and frequency sensitivity was not confirmed (r = 0.26, p = 0.44). However, we did observe a strong positive correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and general motion sickness sensitivity (r = 0.74, p = 0.0006). We conclude that frequency sensitivity is best considered a property unique to the individual. This has important consequences for existing models of motion sickness, which were fitted to group averaged sensitivities. The correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and motion sickness sensitivity supports the importance of verticality perception during exposure to translational sickness stimuli.
01 Jan 2021
Abstract: It is common to believe that passengers are more adversely affected by motion sickness than drivers. However, no study has compared passengers and drivers’ neural activities and drivers experiencing motion sickness (MS). Therefore, this study attempts to explore brain dynamics in motion sickness among passengers and drivers. Eighteen volunteers participated in simulating the driving winding road experiment while their subjective motion sickness levels and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were simultaneously recorded. Independent Component Analysis (ICA) was employed to isolate MS-related independent components (ICs) from EEG. Furthermore, comodulation analysis was applied to decompose spectra of interest ICs, related to MS, to find the specific spectra-related temporally independent modulators (IMs). The results showed that passengers’ alpha band (8-12 Hz) power increased in correlation with the MS level in the parietal, occipital midline and left and right motor areas, and drivers’ alpha band (8-12 Hz) power showed relatively smaller increases than those in the passenger. Further, the results also indicate that the enhanced activation of alpha IMs in the passenger than the driver is due to a higher degree of motion sickness. In conclusion, compared to the driver, the passenger experience more conflicts among multimodal sensory systems and demand neuro-physiological regulation.
TL;DR: In this paper, an advanced non-contact measurement method from an infrared webcam was developed to interpret the phenomenon of motion sickness such as fatigue, anxiety, nausea and disorientation using neural pathways between the brain and pupil nerves.
Abstract: Both physiological and neurological mechanisms are reflected in pupillary rhythms via neural pathways between the brain and pupil nerves. This study aims to interpret the phenomenon of motion sickness such as fatigue, anxiety, nausea and disorientation using these mechanisms and to develop an advanced non-contact measurement method from an infrared webcam. Twenty-four volunteers (12 females) experienced virtual reality content through both two-dimensional and head-mounted device interpretations. An irregular pattern of the pupillary rhythms, demonstrated by an increasing mean and standard deviation of pupil diameter and decreasing pupillary rhythm coherence ratio, was revealed after the participants experienced motion sickness. The motion sickness was induced while watching the head-mounted device as compared to the two-dimensional virtual reality, with the motion sickness strongly related to the visual information processing load. In addition, the proposed method was verified using a new experimental dataset for 23 participants (11 females), with a classification performance of 89.6% (n = 48) and 80.4% (n = 46) for training and test sets using a support vector machine with a radial basis function kernel, respectively. The proposed method was proven to be capable of quantitatively measuring and monitoring motion sickness in real-time in a simple, economical and contactless manner using an infrared camera.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a yoked-control design with seated pre-adolescent children, and exposed dyads to a driving video game, where one child (the driver) drove the virtual vehicle.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the neural correlates of motion sickness susceptibility using multimodal MRI and find greater network centrality of the left intraparietal sulcus in high-rather than in low-susceptible individuals.
Abstract: Susceptibility to motion sickness varies greatly across individuals. However, the neural mechanisms underlying this susceptibility remain largely unclear. To address this gap, the current study aimed to identify the neural correlates of motion sickness susceptibility using multimodal MRI. First, we compared resting-state functional connectivity between healthy individuals who were highly susceptible to motion sickness (N = 36) and age/sex-matched controls who showed low susceptibility (N = 36). Seed-based analysis revealed between-group differences in functional connectivity of core vestibular regions in the left posterior Sylvian fissure. A data-driven approach using intrinsic connectivity contrast found greater network centrality of the left intraparietal sulcus in high- rather than in low-susceptible individuals. Moreover, exploratory structural connectivity analysis uncovered an association between motion sickness susceptibility and white matter integrity in the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus. Taken together, our data indicate left parietal involvement in motion sickness susceptibility.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether morphological asymmetry of the bilateral vestibular organs was associated with motion sickness susceptibility and found that the position asymmetry is associated with negative resting state functional connectivity.
Abstract: Sensory conflicts leading to motion sickness can occur not only between but also within sensory modalities. The vestibular organs are located in both left and right inner ears, and their misalignment can be a source of self-motion related sensory conflicts. In the current study, using inner ear magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether morphological asymmetry of the bilateral vestibular organs was associated with motion sickness susceptibility. The results showed a larger position asymmetry of bilateral vestibular organs in individuals with high rather than low susceptibility. In addition, vestibular position asymmetry was associated with reciprocal interaction (negative resting state functional connectivity) between vestibular and visuocortical regions in lowly, but not highly, susceptible individuals. In conclusion, these findings suggest that vestibular morphological asymmetry can be a source of sensory conflicts in individuals with dysfunctional reciprocal visuo-vestibular interactions, a putative neural mechanism for resolving sensory conflicts.
13 Jun 2021
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a new model to detail the onset of motion sickness and discuss the causal relationship between sensory conflict and the physiological and psychological effects of motion-sickness.
Abstract: Almost everyone can experience motion sickness and one third of the population are highly susceptible. With growing development and popularity of technologies such as self-driving cars, simulators and virtual reality (VR), motion sickness management will be more of a consideration in the future than ever before. People who are susceptible to motion sickness may not gain the full benefits of self-driving cars (e.g., increased productivity), have access to vocations involving significant simulator-based training (e.g., airplane pilots), or have access to the increased opportunities that VR headsets may bring (e.g., vocational training or job roles involving VR). Further, with demographic variance within susceptibility to motion sickness, it is known some demographic groups are far more susceptible to motion sickness than others (e.g., females vs. Males), which further identifies an inclusivity aspect to these technologies. This report evidences the strong motivation towards the mitigation of motion sickness and discusses the associated benefits. Working towards the objective of enhanced motion sickness management, this paper presents a new model to detail the onset of motion sickness syndrome and discusses the causal relationship between sensory conflict and the physiological and psychological effects of motion sickness. In doing so we identify within the existing literature many methods towards the management (both prevention and mitigation) of motion sickness and provide a direction for further study.
21 Sep 2021
TL;DR: Tunnel Vision as discussed by the authors is a type of smart glasses that can dynamically block a wearer's peripheral vision area using switchable polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film, which significantly reduces motion sickness symptoms.
Abstract: Motion sickness affects roughly a third of all people. Narrowing the field of view (FOV) can help to reduce motion sickness symptoms. In this paper, we present Tunnel Vision, a type of smart glasses that can dynamically block a wearer’s peripheral vision area using switchable polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film. We evaluate the prototype in a virtual reality environment. Our experiments (n=19) suggest that Tunnel Vision statistically significantly reduces the following Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) related motion sickness symptoms without impacting immersion: ”difficulty concentrating” (F(2,35) = 4.121, p = 0.025), ”head feeling heavy” (F(2,35) = 3.231, p = 0.051) and ”nausea” (F(2,35) = 3.145, p = 0.055).
TL;DR: Motion sickness among participants who were exposed to virtual vehicles as passengers; that is, they observed vehicle motion, but did not control it, is investigated, consistent with the postural instability theory of motion sickness, and relations between the control of physical and virtual vehicles are illuminated.
Abstract: Virtual vehicles (e.g., driving video games) can give rise to visually induced motion sickness. Typically, people drive virtual vehicles. In the present study, we investigated motion sickness among participants who were exposed to virtual vehicles as passengers; that is, they observed vehicle motion, but did not control it. We also asked how motion sickness and the postural precursors of motion sickness might be influenced by participants’ previous experience of driving physical vehicles. Participants viewed a recording of a virtual automobile in a driving video game. Drivers were young adults with several years of experience driving physical automobiles, while non-drivers were individuals in the same age group who did not have a driver’s license and had never driven an automobile. During exposure to the virtual vehicle, we monitored movement of the head and torso. The independent measures included the incidence and severity of motion sickness. After exposure to the virtual vehicle, the incidence and severity of motion sickness did not differ between Drivers and Non-Drivers. By contrast, postural movement differed between participants who later became motion sick and those who did not. In addition, during exposure to the virtual vehicle, physical driving experience was related to patterns of postural activity that preceded motion sickness. The results are consistent with the postural instability theory of motion sickness, and illuminate relations between the control of physical and virtual vehicles.
TL;DR: Older drivers who were exposed to the simulator show a statistically significant increase in simulator sickness symptoms across the four domains compared to the same group being tested in the shuttle.
Abstract: Older drivers desire independence in mobility, and automated vehicles hold plausible opportunities to realize this goal. Motion sickness (automated shuttle exposure) or simulator sickness (automated driving simulator exposure) may affect acceptance of these technologies. This study investigated the onset of motion and simulator sickness in older drivers (mean age = 74.29, SD = 5.96; female = 54%) after exposure to an automated shuttle and automated driving simulator and assessed age and sex as determinants of motion and/or simulator sickness. Using a repeated measures design, 104 older drivers were randomly allocated to the shuttle and simulator. Baseline, as well as post exposures, were measured using the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (domains: sweatiness, queasiness, dizziness, nauseousness). Older drivers who were exposed to the simulator show a statistically significant increase in simulator sickness symptoms across the four domains compared to the same group being tested in the shuttle. No age and sex differences were detected within the groups and no participants dropped out of the study due to motion or simulator sickness. The automated shuttle and simulator hold plausible opportunities for continued exposure of older drivers to these technologies, as long as motion or driving simulator sickness protocols are used properly.
TL;DR: In this article, a repeated-measures laboratory experiment where field-measured 6-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) passenger vehicle vibration was replicated on a 6-DOF motion platform, the authors evaluated whole body vibration (WBV), non-driving task performance, muscle activity, and self-reported discomfort and motion sickness between different seat suspension systems.
TL;DR: This study addresses the influencing factors of dynamic stimulation, visual perception and individual motion sickness susceptibility in a real car environment by evaluating the dynamic stimulation seen as vehicle acceleration in a purely longitudinal stimulation.
Abstract: The enjoyment and usage of highly automated vehicles might be reduced by motion sickness. This study addresses the influencing factors of dynamic stimulation, visual perception and individual motion sickness susceptibility in a real car environment. Based on the sensory rearrangement theory the stimulation of the vestibular organs effects motion sickness. The dynamic stimulation seen as vehicle acceleration is evaluated by the Motion Sickness Dose Value (MSDV). 30 participants experienced a stop-and-go driving scenario while looking outside and on a display inside the car. Participants were preselected to represent a group susceptible to motion sickness. A driving profile with alternating low and high stimulating characteristics was used. Three symptoms of motion sickness were verbally rated on a scale from zero to ten at one minute intervals. The symptom ratings show a significant increase for the situation of video watching on the display in this purely longitudinal stimulation. Dynamic stimulation, visual perception and individual susceptibility act as equally important factors for modeling motion sickness intensity. To estimate the intensity of motion sickness the extension of the MSDV by inclusion of visual perception and individual susceptibility is strongly recommended.