Motion sickness susceptibility and solution choice in a pragmatic paradox

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human Factors

Background:

• The prisoner's dilemma is a classic game theory paradox used to study decision-making.
• Motion sickness susceptibility varies significantly among individuals.
• Previous research suggests personality traits influence social involvement and decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate potential differences in problem-solving preferences related to motion sickness susceptibility.
• To explore the cognitive strategies employed by individuals with varying degrees of motion sickness.
• To determine if a cognitive bias exists in relation to motion sickness spectrum.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a mathematical formulation of the prisoner's dilemma game.
• Participants imagined playing a non-communicative game with hypothetical partners.
• Assessed problem-solving preferences among three solutions: win-win, lose-lose, and win-lose.

Main Results:

• A cognitive bias was observed across the motion sickness susceptibility spectrum.
• Highly motion sick individuals showed a greater tendency towards the 'win-win' solution.
• This cooperative bias contrasts with expected patterns based on personality traits.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive bias in problem-solving is linked to motion sickness susceptibility.
• The observed bias may stem from fundamental problem-solving strategies related to orientation processes.
• Findings suggest a novel connection between sensory processing and decision-making strategies.