Vection does not necessitate visually induced motion sickness

Abstract

Vection, i.e. a visually induced illusory sense of self-motion, is assumed to play an essential role in visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). However, its precise role is unknown. Following the sensory conflict theory, a constant state of vection is not expected to lead to a visual-vestibular conflict whereas variability in vection, i.e. change in vection strength over time, would. In this study we investigated whether variability in vection rather than vection caused VIMS in participants exposed to constant optic flow using a head-mounted display. Strongest possible vection (i.e. 100% on a 0–100% scale) was reported by 16 out of 18 participants at some point during the experiment, with a total average vection score over the experiment of 58.6%. Initial motion sickness symptoms were reported by 15 out of 18 participants, although only averaging 1.78 on an 11-point scale. Neither average vection strength nor variability in vection were significantly correlated with motion sickness. Relating our findings to the literature, we argue that vection should be understood not as a direct cause of VIMS, but as a perceptual state still depending on other visual factors before VIMS occurs. Vection by itself, even if it is experienced strongly, does not necessitate VIMS.