Orientation Preferences and Motion Sickness Induced in a Virtual Reality Environment

Area of Science:

• Human factors and aerospace medicine
• Neuroscience and sensory processing
• Virtual reality simulation for training

Background:

• Individual susceptibility to space motion sickness (SMS) correlates with orientation preferences.
• Orientation preferences are thought to be intrinsic, but SMS susceptibility can be reduced through training.
• This study investigated if orientation preferences change after reducing SMS susceptibility via virtual reality (VR) exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if orientation preferences are altered by reducing space motion sickness (SMS) susceptibility.
• To explore the dynamic nature of sensory cue prioritization in a simulated weightless environment.
• To inform the customization of astronaut training programs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a virtual reality (VR) environment simulating weightlessness with a horizontal supine posture.
• Subjects were divided into an experimental group (trained with rotating VR scenes) and a control group (untrained).
• Orientation preferences were assessed before and after a training interval, with only the experimental group receiving VR training.

Main Results:

• Trained subjects showed a 40% reduction in SMS symptom scores.
• Significant differences in orientation preferences were observed between pre- and post-training assessments in the trained group.
• Trained subjects demonstrated a decreased reliance on visual cues for orientation.

Conclusions:

• Visual information can be unreliable for orientation and stabilization in rotating virtual environments.
• Reprioritization of sensory cues is dynamic and varies individually.
• Findings support tailoring astronaut training based on individual sensory preferences and adaptability.