Heart rate variability and motion sickness during forklift simulator driving

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Virtual reality simulators are increasingly used for operator training.
• Understanding the physiological impact of simulator use is crucial for operator well-being.
• Autonomic nervous system regulation of heart rate is sensitive to environmental stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of virtual forklift truck simulator driving on autonomic heart rate regulation.
• To compare the physiological responses between individuals with and without motion sickness inclination.

Main Methods:

• Participants underwent 1-hour virtual forklift simulator driving.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded using Holter monitoring.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was performed in time and frequency domains across 12 epochs.

Main Results:

• In subjects with a definite inclination to motion sickness, significant changes in HRV parameters were observed around 30 minutes into the simulation.
• These changes indicated a concurrent increase in both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity.
• A notable finding was the presence of parasympathetic dominance in this subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Virtual simulator driving can alter autonomic heart rate regulation mechanisms.
• Individuals susceptible to motion sickness exhibit distinct physiological responses during simulator use.
• Parasympathetic dominance suggests a complex interplay of autonomic adjustments in response to virtual environments.