Investigation of Heart Rate Variability Indices in Motion Sickness.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Motion sickness (MS), or kinetosis, is a common condition triggered by rhythmic or irregular motion.
• The sensory-conflict hypothesis is the leading explanation for MS.
• Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, assessed via heart-rate variability (HRV), may offer insights into MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the utility of HRV indices for assessing motion sickness.
• To explore the potential of contact-free cardiac sensing for unobtrusive MS monitoring in real-world scenarios like autonomous vehicles.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Studies categorized by MS induction methods: mechanical stimulus, real trip, visual stimulus, and virtual reality.

Main Results:

• Frequency-domain HRV metrics, specifically the low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio and HF power, along with mean heart rate (mHR), are most commonly reported in MS research.
• Findings suggest a link between autonomic dysregulation and MS susceptibility.

Conclusions:

• HRV metrics show promise as indicators for motion sickness assessment and monitoring.
• Standardized protocols are necessary to validate HRV as a reliable marker for MS.
• Further research could enable early detection and continuous monitoring of MS, enhancing passenger comfort and safety.