Study on the regulatory effect of magnetic vestibular stimulation on visually induced motion sickness

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a common adverse effect of virtual reality (VR). Magnetic vestibular stimulation (MVS) may modulate vestibular function, but its effect on VIMS remains unclear. This study examined whether different MVS intensities were associated with changes in VIMS symptoms and resting-state EEG network characteristics in healthy participants exposed to VR. Twenty healthy young adults completed five repeated-measures sessions: normal/non-VR, VR-only, and VR combined with MVS at 90%, 100%, and 110% of individual resting motor threshold (rMT). VIMS symptoms were assessed using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) before and after each session. Resting-state EEG was recorded after each session, and brain functional network parameters were calculated across frequency bands. SSQ total and subscale scores differed significantly across sessions. Compared with VR alone, the 110% rMT condition showed a more favorable SSQ symptom profile, whereas 90% rMT MVS was associated with symptom aggravation. EEG network analysis showed exploratory session-related differences across multiple frequency bands, with the 110% rMT condition generally showing a pattern closer to baseline. In this study, higher-intensity MVS was associated with reduced VIMS symptoms, whereas lower-intensity MVS may worsen symptoms. These findings should be confirmed in larger studies.