Visually-Induced Motion Sickness: An Experimental Investigation

Abstract

This study examined the effect of adaptation training on simulation sickness by inducing graded motion sickness through the systematic distortion of the relevant characteristics of a VR device. Forty adults between the ages of 18 and 47 participated in this experiment. In the control condition, the participants were required to complete a single self-propelled rotation simulation (SRS) trial, and then use a visually coupled head mounted virtual reality (VR) device plus exposure to an optokinetic rotating drum (OKN) device. In the experimental condition, all the participants took part in a five-session study in which they were exposed to five trials of the SRS and to the VE and OKN rotating drum. Immediately following each task, all participants were required to rate their level of dizziness. The results showed a significant main effect of adaptation training on both the VR and OKN rotating drum as reported by the dizziness ratings. These findings indicate that the difference in dizziness rates was markedly higher among the control group than the experimental group.