Seasickness Alleviation based on a Mindfulness Brain-Computer Interface

Seasickness is a common condition that negatively affects both the experience of passengers and the operating performance of maritime personnel. Techniques aimed at redirecting attention have been proposed to alleviate motion sickness symptoms; however, their effectiveness has not yet been rigorously verified, especially in maritime environments, which present unique challenges due to the prolonged and severe motion conditions. This research introduces a mindfulness brain-computer interface (BCI) specifically designed to redirect attention and alleviate seasickness. The system employs a single-channel headband to record prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) signals, which are wirelessly transmitted to computing devices for real-time mindfulness assessments. Participants receive feedback in the form of mindfulness scores and audiovisual cues, facilitating a redirection of attention from physical discomfort. In maritime experiments with 43 participants across three sessions, 81.39% reported the BCI's effectiveness, and a substantial reduction in seasickness severity was observed using the Misery Scale (MISC). Together, our work presents the first wearable and nonpharmacological solution for alleviating seasickness, and opens up a brand-new application domain for BCIs.