[Comparison between motion sickness induced by reversed vision and that by parallel swing]

Area of Science:

• Vestibular science
• Human physiology
• Sensory integration

Background:

• Motion sickness is a common challenge, particularly in environments involving altered sensory input.
• Understanding the mechanisms of motion sickness is crucial for developing effective countermeasures and training protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize motion sickness induced by reversed vision.
• To evaluate the utility of reversed vision as a tool for motion sickness research and adaptation training.

Main Methods:

• Healthy young men underwent walking tests with up-down or left-right reversing prisms and a parallel swing test.
• Ataxia and motion sickness symptoms were recorded.
• Reversed vision tolerance index (RVTI) and linear acceleration tolerance index (LATI) were calculated.

Main Results:

• Both reversing prisms and parallel swing induced ataxia and motion sickness.
• Reversed vision symptoms were less severe and slower to appear than swing-induced symptoms.
• Ataxia correlated with motion sickness susceptibility; susceptibility to different reversing prisms was correlated, but not completely with swing susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• Reversed vision effectively induces motion sickness and ataxia.
• The reversed vision test is a simple, practical method for simulating space motion sickness.
• This technique can be used for ground-based training in adaptation to sensory conflict.