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Visual and vestibular components of motion sickness
M Eyeson-Annan1, C Peterken, B Brown
1Centre for Eye Research, School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Visual stimuli are more potent in causing motion sickness (MS) when presented alone. However, when visual and vestibular inputs are combined, their effects on MS are equivalent due to cross-coupling effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- The role of visual versus vestibular input in motion sickness (MS) etiology is unclear.
- Coriolis and pseudo-Coriolis effects can manipulate visual and vestibular information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that visual and vestibular information are equivalent in producing MS.
- To examine the relative influence of Coriolis and pseudo-Coriolis effects in inducing MS.
Main Methods:
- Induced MS symptoms using combinations of whole body and environmental rotation and tilt in 22 subjects.
- Recorded MS signs and symptoms with isolated visual, isolated vestibular, and combined visual-vestibular stimulation.
- Ensured at least 2 days between experiments to mitigate after-effects.
Main Results:
- Isolated visual stimuli produced significantly more MS symptoms than isolated vestibular stimuli (p=0.01).
- No significant difference in MS production was observed when combined visual and vestibular stimulation produced Coriolis or pseudo-Coriolis effects (p=0.53).
- Symptom order and lack of correlation with prior experience supported findings.
Conclusions:
- Visual information is more critical than vestibular input for MS when presented in isolation.
- Cross-coupling between pseudo-Coriolis and Coriolis effects occurs when both visual and vestibular information are present, leading to similar MS induction.