Visually Induced Motion Sickness Research Articles

Factors affecting vection and motion sickness in a passive virtual reality driving simulation

The current study sought to examine factors that affect vection (the illusory experience of self-motion in the absence of real motion), visually-induced motion sickness, and one’s sense of presence in a passive virtual reality driving simulation by exposing participants to 60-s pre-recorded driving laps and recording their self-reported metrics as well as their head motion patterns during the laps. Faster virtual driving speed (average 120 mph vs. 60 mph) resulted in significantly higher ratings of vection and motion sickness. Reclined posture (30° back) was examined as a possible mitigating factor for sickness, but no significant effects were found. Expanding visual cues (representing forward self-motion) resulted in higher ratings of vection, motion sickness, and presence compared to contracting cues (representing reverse self-motion) and translational cues (representing lateral self-motion). When experiencing typical upright, world-aligned, forward-facing conditions, conformity to the median head motions along the yaw axis was associated with higher ratings of vection, motion sickness, and presence at slow speeds and with vection and presence at high speeds. These findings underscore the importance of head motion patterns as a metric for behavior and contribute to the general understanding of illusory self-motion perception.

Mismatches between 3D Content Acquisition and Perception Cause More Visually Induced Motion Sickness

Abstract The sensory rearrangement theory announced that a mismatch between the current visual inputs and the visual exposure history might trigger or aggravate the visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). However, this has not been explicitly investigated through perception experiments. This study investigates the effect of mismatches between 3D content acquisition and perception on VIMS. Two types of mismatches between the camera field of view and the eye field of view were compared with the match type, and the mismatch types are the conditions that configured the camera field of view to be larger or smaller than the eye field of view. A perception experiment was executed with 21 participants, and the subjective SSQ, five-scale VIMS level rating, and objective postural instability were adopted as the evaluation metrics. The mismatches were found to have a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the VIMS symptom based on the results of subjective VIMS level rating and objective postural instability evaluations. Mismatches between 3D content acquisition and perception cause more VIMS. This knowledge highlights the importance of perfect configuration matches in 3D content acquisition, display, and perception for eliminating the potential VIMS aggravation effect.

Is Video Gaming a Cure for Cybersickness? Gamers Experience Less Cybersickness Than Non-Gamers in a VR Self-Motion Task.

Cybersickness remains a major drawback of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, as a breadth of stationary experiences with visual self-motion can result in visually-induced motion sickness. However, not everybody experiences the same intensity or type of adverse symptoms. Here we propose that prior experience with virtual environments can predict ones degree of cybersickness. Video gaming can enhance visuospatial abilities, which in-turn relate negatively to cybersickness - meaning that consistently engaging in virtual environments can result in protective habituation effects. In a controlled stationary VR experiment, we found that 'VR-naive' video gamers experienced significantly less cybersickness in a virtual tunnel-travel task and outperformed 'VR-naive' non-video gamers on a visual attention task. These findings strongly motivate the use of non-VR games for training VR cybersickness resilience, with future research needed to further understand the mechanism(s) by which gamers become cybersickness resilient - potentially expanding access to VR for even the most susceptible participants.

Combined Method Comprising Low Burden Physiological Measurements with Dry Electrodes and Machine Learning for Classification of Visually Induced Motion Sickness in Remote-Controlled Excavator

The construction industry is actively developing remote-controlled excavators to address labor shortages and improve work safety. However, visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) remains a concern in the remote operation of construction machinery. To predict the occurrence and severity of VIMS, we developed a prototype system that acquires multiple physiological signals with different mechanisms under a low burden and detects VIMS from the collected data. Signals during VIMS were recorded from nine healthy adult males operating excavator simulators equipped with multiple displays and a head-mounted display. Light gradient-boosting machine-based VIMS detection binary classification models were constructed using approximately 30,000 s of time-series data, comprising 23 features derived from the physiological signals. These models were validated using leave-one-out cross-validation on seven participants who experienced severe VIMS and evaluated through area under the curve (AUC) scores. The mean receiver operating characteristic curve AUC score was 0.84, and the mean precision–recall curve AUC score was 0.71. All features were incorporated into the models, with saccade frequency and skin conductance response identified as particularly important. These trends aligned with subjective assessments of VIMS severity. This study contributes to advancing the use of remote-controlled machinery by addressing a critical challenge to operator performance and safety.

Effects of within-day intervals on adaptation to visually induced motion sickness in a virtual-reality motorcycling simulator

This study investigated the effects of the time interval between virtual reality (VR) sessions on visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) reduction to better understand adaptation to and recovery from a nauseating VR experience. The participants experienced two 6-min VR sessions of a first-person motorcycle ride through a head-mounted display with (1) a 6-min interval, (2) an interval until the VIMS score reached zero, and (3) a 60-min interval. The results showed that for each condition, VIMS in the second session was aggravated, unchanged, or attenuated, respectively, indicating that additional resting time was necessary for VIMS adaptation. This study suggests that a certain type of multisensory learning attenuates VIMS symptoms within a relatively short time, requiring at least 20 min of additional resting time after subjective recovery from VIMS symptoms. This finding has important implications for reducing the time interval between repeated challenges when adapting to nauseating stimuli during VR experiences.

Training of spatial cognitive abilities reduces symptoms of visually induced motion sickness.

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of enhancing individual spatial cognitive abilities in alleviating the negative symptoms of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). Additionally, it seeks to develop innovative intervention methods to improve spatial cognition and identify new treatment approaches for VIMS. The study investigated the impact of innovative interventions on spatial cognitive abilities and their modulation of VIMS susceptibility. A total of 43 participants were recruited (23 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group). The experimental group underwent six sessions of spatial cognitive ability training, while the control group engaged in activities unrelated to spatial cognition. The analysis revealed that the spatial cognitive ability scores of the experimental group significantly improved after the intervention. Furthermore, the experimental group exhibited significant differences in nausea, oculomotor, disorientation, and total SSQ scores before and after the intervention, indicating that the intervention effectively mitigated VIMS symptoms. This study developed a virtual reality training method that effectively enhances individual spatial cognitive abilities and significantly alleviates VIMS symptoms, providing a novel and effective approach for VIMS intervention and treatment.

“Are you feeling sick?” – A systematic literature review of cybersickness in virtual reality

Cybersickness (CS), also known as visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), is a condition that can affect individuals when they interact with virtual reality (VR) technology. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, eye fatigue, and so on, and can be caused by a variety of factors. Finding a feasible solution to reduce the impact of CS is extremely important as it will greatly enhance the overall user experience and make VR more appealing to a wider range of people. We have carefully compiled a list of 223 highly pertinent studies to review the current state of research on the most essential aspects of CS. We have provided a novel taxonomy that encapsulates various aspects of CS measurement techniques found in the literature. We have proposed a set of CS mitigation guidelines for both developers and users. We have also discussed various CS-inducing factors and provided a taxonomy that tries to capture the same. Overall, our work provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research in CS with a particular emphasis on different measurement techniques and CS mitigation strategies, identifies research gaps in the literature, and provides recommendations for future research in the field.

Implementing virtual reality technology to teach medical college systemic anatomy: A pilot study.

It can be difficult for some students to learn three-dimensional anatomical structure concepts. While virtual reality (VR) systems have been reported as helpful for learning, there has been scarce research on either VR teaching strategies or the influence of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) in the context of large anatomy classes (i.e., over 100 students). The study thus aimed to (1) establish a VR anatomy instruction video for a large class; (2) determine how many students experience VIMS when watching a VR anatomy instruction video; (3) evaluate the influence of VIMS on VR anatomy video-based learning; and (4) examine whether a small screen size alleviates VIMS. Laboratory course students viewing a VR anatomy instruction video about the vascular system were invited to participate in the questionnaire survey. Anatomy faculty and staff participated in an experimental trial to determine whether small screen size could alleviate VIMS. The Likert scale survey revealed that students reported the VR strategy as advantageous and appropriate for large classes, but that it cannot replace practical dissection. Of the total participants, 32% reported experiencing VIMS, and 40% of those experiencing VIMS agreed that this could negatively impact their learning through a VR anatomy instruction video. Adjusting the screen size from large to small significantly delayed the onset of VIMS. In conclusion, the VR anatomy instruction video strategy is feasible and helpful for large classes, but educators should consider VIMS when planning their use of this teaching approach.

Novel neurodigital interface reduces motion sickness in virtual reality

Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-created 3D environment with a focus on realistic scenes and pictures created for entertainment, medical and/or educational and training purposes. One of the major side effects of VR immersion reported in the scientific literature, media and social media is Visually Induced Motion Sickness (VIMS), with clinical symptoms such as disorientation, nausea, and oculomotor discomfort. VIMS is mostly caused by the discrepancy between the visual and vestibular systems and can lead to dizziness, nausea, and disorientation. In this study, we present one potential novel solution to combat motion sickness in VR, showcasing a significant reduction of nausea in VR users employing the META Quest 2 headsets in conjunction with a whole-body controller. Using a neurodigital approach, we facilitate a more immersive and comfortable VR experience. Our findings indicate a marked reduction in VR-induced nausea, paving the way to promote VR technology for broader applications across various fields.

The role of lifestyle factors, biological sex, and racial identity for (visually induced) motion sickness susceptibility: Insights from an online survey

Motion sickness (MS) and visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) are common side-effects when travelling or when using visual devices, respectively. A variety of individual factors may determine one’s susceptibility to MS/VIMS. Here, the role of lifestyle factors including video-game usage, physical activity, diet, and substance use on self-reported susceptibility to MS/VIMS was investigated. Additionally, the roles of biological sex and racial identity on the overall prevalence of MS/VIMS were analyzed. A total of 711 responses to an online survey were collected from adults between the ages of 17–49 years. Methods of analyses included correlations, comparison tests, and multiple regressions. The results showed that, overall, VIMS is a prevalent issue for most participants, with approximately 24 % of users reporting nausea at least sometimes when using visual displays. Although some lifestyle factors (video game usage, assorted dietary elements) were identified as potentially relevant for MS/VIMS susceptibility, these factors only explained a minimal amount of the variance in MS/VIMS susceptibility. Significant sex differences were found, with female participants reporting higher susceptibility for MS/VIMS than male participants. Additionally, East Asians participants reported higher MS susceptibility. Our findings do not suggest that lifestyle factors are prominent predictors for the susceptibility of VIMS and MS.

External Intervention for Visually Induced Postural Change during Video Viewing

Virtual reality (VR) and three-dimensional (3D) images have become increasingly popular. It has been reported that visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is more frequently caused by viewing these images. We propose a method to control VIMS by controlling visually evoked postural responses (VEPRs) using galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS). In this study, we focused on the effect of VEPRs on body sway and conducted a transfer function analysis between the GVS and body sway. On the basis of the results of this investigation of the causes of VIMS, countermeasures must be considered. The experiment involved 15 healthy young adults, comprising six males and nine females, all aged 21 years. The subjects were asked to maintain a Romberg posture while viewing an image that included a large number of randomly positioned moving spheres with their peripheral vision. In addition, body sway during GVS as an external stimulus was measured for 120s for each task. The transfer function analysis of the body sway showed that the influence on the equilibrium function was significantly enhanced not only by the GVS but even more so by viewing the video clips synchronized to the GVS. GVS current signals induced body sway and increased the width of body sway synergistically. It was also suggested that a time delay structure occurred between the GVS current signal and body sway.

Poster Session I: Perspective-correct rendering for active observers.

Stereoscopic, head-tracked display systems can show users realistic, world-locked virtual objects and environments (i.e., rendering perspective-correct binocular images with accurate motion parallax). However, discrepancies between the rendering pipeline and physical viewing conditions can lead to perceived instability in the rendered content resulting in reduced immersion and, potentially, visually-induced motion sickness. Precise requirements to achieve perceptually stable world-locked rendering (WLR) are unknown due to the challenge of constructing a wide field of view, distortion-free display with highly accurate head and eyetracking. We present a custom-built system capable of rendering virtual objects over real-world references without perceivable drift under such constraints. This platform is used to study acceptable errors in render camera position for WLR in augmented and virtual reality scenarios, where we find an order of magnitude difference in perceptual sensitivity. We conclude with an analytic model which examines changes to apparent depth and visual direction in response to camera displacement errors, and visual direction is highlighted as a potentially important consideration for WLR alongside depth errors from incorrect disparity.

Investigation of the Correlation Between the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire and the Turkish Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire.

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a phenomenon similar to motion sickness frequently observed in users of visual technologies. The Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ), developed by Golding et al. (2006), is considered the most effective scale for assessing VIMS susceptibility levels. The main purpose of this study was to standardize the selection of participants for research conducted with virtual reality, especially motion sickness (MS) research. To achieve this, first, the Turkish version of the VIMSSQ was created to establish its validity and reliability, and subsequently, its correlation with the Turkish Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Short form (HDDA), the expanded version of the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire Short form (MSSQ), was examined. Subjects and. Linguistic equivalence assessment was obtained from ten experts by passing the VIMSSQ through the translation process. The VIMSSQ and the Turkish MSSQ forms were then administered to 49 subjects. This study statistically analyzed the validity and reliability of the VIMSSQ and its relationship with the MSSQ. Results showed that the Turkish version of the original questionnaire is highly reliable (Cronbach alpha=0.843). There is a moderate statistically significant positive correlation between the total MSSQ scores and the subfactors of the VIMSSQ. In this study, VIMSSQ was successfully adapted to Turkish, normative data demonstrated its validity, and all sub-factors were highly reliable. The Turkish version of the VIMSSQ can serve as a valuable tool for estimating individual susceptibility to VIMS.

Assessment of individual differences for aftereffect of viewing autostereoscopic 3D display

AbstractThe representation of images on autostereoscopic 3D display often suffers from visual fatigue induced by stereoscopic images (VFSI) and visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), deriving from conflict between accommodation and convergence and from mismatches between vestibule system and visual system of viewers, respectively. In this study, a subjective experiment was conducted to investigate the implications of age and gender on the visual discomfort when watching the 3D video clips with four levels of parallax on autostereoscopic 3D display. This study found that the age of observers significantly affected both VFSI and VIMS symptoms. The young observers reported more serious VFSI and VIMS symptoms than the middle and elderly, while the three age groups had significantly pairwise difference for VIMS symptoms. Although gender differences did not exist in the ratio of VFSI symptoms, females had significant higher VIMS scores than males. The effect of parallax on symptom scores varied with age and gender. The elderly and male observers could endure larger parallax when compared to other groups. Furthermore, considering viewing safety for observers, it is recommended to limit parallax to a threshold of 40′.

Exploring neurophysiological correlates of visually induced motion sickness using electroencephalography (EEG).

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a common phenomenon when using visual devices such as smartphones and virtual reality applications, with symptoms including nausea, fatigue, and headache. To date, the neuro-cognitive processes underlying VIMS are not fully understood. Previous studies using electroencephalography (EEG) delivered mixed findings, with some reporting an increase in delta and theta power, and others reporting increases in alpha and beta frequencies. The goal of the study was to gain further insight into EEG correlates for VIMS. Participants viewed a VIMS-inducing visual stimulus, composed of moving black-and-white vertical bars presented on an array of three adjacent monitors. The EEG was recorded during visual stimulation and VIMS ratings were recorded after each trial using the Fast Motion Sickness Scale. Time-frequency analyses were conducted comparing neural activity of participants reporting minimal VIMS (n = 21) and mild-moderate VIMS (n = 12). Results suggested a potential increase in delta power in the centro-parietal regions (CP2) and a decrease in alpha power in the central regions (Cz) for participants experiencing mild-moderate VIMS compared to those with minimal VIMS. Event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs) suggested that group differences in EEG activity developed with increasing duration of a trial. These results support the hypothesis that the EEG might be sensitive to differences in information processing in VIMS and minimal VIMS contexts, and indicate that it may be possible to identify neurophysiological correlate of VIMS. Differences in EEG activity related to VIMS may reflect differential processing of conflicting visual and vestibular sensory information.

Brain activity differences between susceptible and non-susceptible populations under visually induced motion sickness based on sensor-space and source-space analyses

The neural mechanisms underlying visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) in different susceptible populations are unclear, as it is not clear how brain activity changes in different susceptible populations during the vection section (VS). This study aimed to analyze the brain activity changes in different susceptible populations during VS. Twenty subjects were included in this study and divided into the VIMS-susceptible group (VIMSSG) and VIMS-resistant group (VIMSRG) based on a motion sickness questionnaire. 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) data from these subjects during VS were collected. The brain activities during VS for VIMSSG and VIMSRG were analyzed with time–frequency based sensor-space analysis and EEG source imaging based source-space analysis. Under VS, delta and theta energies were significantly increased in VIMSSG and VIMSRG, while alpha and beta energies were only significantly increased in VIMSRG. Also, the superior and middle temporal were activated in VIMSSG and VIMSRG, while lateral occipital, supramarginal gyrus, and precentral gyrus were activated only in VIMSSG. The spatiotemporal differences in brain activity observed between VIMSSG and VIMSRG may be attributed to the different susceptibility of participants in each group and the different severity of MS symptoms experienced. Long-term vestibular training can effectively improve the ability of anti-VIMS. The knowledge gained from this study helps advance understanding of the neural mechanism of VIMS in different susceptible populations.

Complications associated with the use of virtual reality therapy during the treatment of postoperative pain

Relevance. The therapy based on virtual reality is used as a method of non-pharmacological treatment of postoperative pain. Possible complications are poorly understood, making it difficult to use in everyday clinical practice.The objective was the evaluation of the development of complications when using therapy based on virtual reality in the treatment of postoperative pain syndrome.Materials and methods. A prospective clinical study was performed. 90 patients who had to perform surgical interventions were included. After randomization, three groups were formed: group I (n = 30) – therapy with a 15-minute session as an addition to standard therapy for postoperative pain, group II (n = 30) – therapy with a 25-minute session, and group III (n = 30) receiving only drug treatment of postoperative pain syndrome. Virtual reality-based therapy (VR-therapy) was performed 3, 7, 12 hours after surgery using the Oculus Quest 2 device. Postoperative nausea, vomiting and dizziness were considered complications of VR-therapy. The development of complications was assessed using the FMS (Fast Motion Sickness Scale) self-assessment of motion sickness and the Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Scale (PONV). The quality of the patient’s recovery after anesthesia was assessed using the QoR-15 scale.Results. There were no differences in the incidence of visually induced motion sickness between groups with different session durations. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and the need for antiemetic drugs did not differ between the main and control groups. A positive correlation was found between the occurrence of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) and the use of opioid drugs in the postoperative period. In patients with a VR-therapy session duration of 25 minutes, the indicators of the quality of recovery after anesthesia were higher than in other groups.Conclusions. The use of VR-therapy with a session of 15 and 25 minutes does not lead to an increase in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The duration of therapy did not affect the development of VIMS. The indicators of the quality of recovery after anesthesia in the group with a duration of VR-therapy of 25 minutes were higher than in other groups.

O023 Effectiveness of augmented reality for surgical training of medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Interest in augmented reality (AR) technologies within an educational setting have surged in recent years. However, few studies evaluate the use of AR in a primarily medical student population. This systematic review with meta-analysis intended to evaluate the existing literature on this topic. Methods This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Using relevant synonyms for the terms augmented reality, surgery and medical students, the databases Medline, Embase, and Scopus were searched. Data was extracted for outcome measures such as time for task completion, errors/fails, attempts/retries, motion sickness/nausea and focus shifts. Results Some 826 records were initially retrieved; 19 studies were included in our review, with a total of 485 participants. The AR group performed better than the comparator group in 84% of the statistically significant main outcomes. The AR groups were less likely to fail assessment, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.76 (95% CI:0.06-51.71, p=0.74, I2=81%). One study reported 57% fewer critical errors than the comparator group. Only two studies reported nausea/motion sickness as an outcome (12% (n=3) and mean Likert-scale score of 3 (of 10) in the AR groups). Conclusion AR can be an effective surgical teaching and training tool for medical students. However, the limitations of AR, including visually-induced motion sickness, have not yet been explored extensively by primary studies with a medical student population. Therefore, gradual integration of AR is proposed until further studies elucidating benefits and risks can be undertaken.

Effects of Seated Postural Sway on Visually Induced Motion Sickness: A Multiple Regression and RUSBoost Classification Approach

The purpose of this study was to propose a model for estimating individual susceptibility to motion sickness by correlating measures of seated postural sway before exposure to a roller coaster movie displayed in a head-mounted display (HMD) with subjective ratings of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). The participants were required to watch the content for 15 min, and seated center of pressure (sCOP) was measured using a force platform for 5 min before viewing. We developed a VIMS estimating model from 16 subjects and verified it on 15 subjects. SSQ scores for VIMS were strongly correlated with the area of sCOP, the main-to-minor ratio of the sCOP ellipse, and the total length of sCOP, respectively (r = 0.706, r = 0.555, and r = 0.622). When verifying the estimation model, the observed SSQ scores differed by 32.628 ± 29.749 from the expected SSQ scores, and both score sets were positively correlated (r = 0.622). The classification results between nil and mild, moderate, and severe groups for VIMS showed an accuracy of 0.74 using random under-sampling boost (RUSBoost).

Measuring the susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness and its relationship with vertigo, dizziness, migraine, syncope and personality traits

The widespread use of visual technologies such as Virtual Reality increases the risk of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). Previously, the 6-item short version of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ short form) has been validated for predicting individual variation in VIMS. The aim of the current study was to investigate how the susceptibility to VIMS is correlated with other relevant factors in the general population. A total of 440 participants (201 M, 239F), mean age 33.6 (SD 14.8) years, completed an anonymous online survey of various questionnaires including the VIMSSQ, Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ), Vertigo in City questionnaire (VIC), Migraine (scale), Social & Work Impact of Dizziness (SWID), Syncope (faintness), and Personality (‘Big Five’ TIPI). The VIMSSQ correlated positively with the MSSQ (r = 0.50), VIC (r = 0.45), Migraine (r = 0.44), SWID (r = 0.28), and Syncope (r = 0.15). The most efficient Multiple Linear Regression model for the VIMSSQ included the predictors MSSQ, Migraine, VIC, and Age and explained 40% of the variance. Factor analysis of strongest correlates with VIMSSQ revealed a single factor loading with VIMSSQ, MSSQ, VIC, Migraine, SWID, and Syncope, suggesting a common latent variable of sensitivity. The set of predictors for the VIMSSQ in the general population has similarity with those often observed in patients with vestibular disorders. Based on these correlational results, we suggest the existence of continuum of underlying risk factors for sensitivity, from healthy population to patients with extreme visual vertigo and perhaps Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.