Oculo-vestibular recoupling using galvanic vestibular stimulation to mitigate simulator sickness.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human Factors Engineering
• Aerospace Medicine

Background:

• Simulator sickness (SS) is a primary limitation in flight simulator training.
• Intersensory visual-vestibular conflict is the leading cause of SS.
• Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) offers a method to synchronize visual and vestibular inputs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of oculo-vestibular-recoupled (OVR) simulation using GVS to reduce simulator sickness.
• To develop an algorithm for synchronizing GVS with visual stimuli in a flight simulator.

Main Methods:

• A multisite electrode array delivered GVS to 21 subjects to identify optimal electrode combinations.
• GVS dose-response predictions for motion perception were established.
• An algorithm was implemented in a flight simulator for OVR simulation, with subjects randomly exposed to conditions with or without OVR.

Main Results:

• Six unique GVS electrode combinations were identified, forming the basis for the OVR simulation algorithm.
• The OVR group showed significantly reduced SS scores across gastrointestinal (6.3% vs. 17%), central (20% vs. 22.4%), and peripheral (8% vs. 20%) categories compared to the Control group.

Conclusions:

• Synchronizing virtual head signals from GVS with the moving visual field in flight simulators significantly reduces SS.
• OVR simulation effectively mitigates sensory conflict, leading to a more comfortable and potentially more effective training experience.