Influence of Normal Aging and Multisensory Data Fusion on Cybersickness and Postural Adaptation in Immersive Virtual Reality

Abstract

Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) systems are expanding as sensorimotor readaptation tools for older adults. However, this purpose may be challenged by cybersickness occurrences possibly caused by sensory conflicts. This study aims to analyze the effects of aging and multisensory data fusion processes in the brain on cybersickness and the adaptation of postural responses when exposed to immersive VR. Methods: We repeatedly exposed 75 participants, aged 21 to 86, to immersive VR while recording the trajectory of their Center of Pressure (CoP). Participants rated their cybersickness after the first and fifth exposure. Results: The repeated exposures increased cybersickness and allowed for a decrease in postural responses from the second repetition, i.e., increased stability. We did not find any significant correlation between biological age and cybersickness scores. On the contrary, even if some postural responses are age-dependent, a significant postural adaptation occurred independently of age. The CoP trajectory length in the anteroposterior axis and mean velocity were the postural parameters the most affected by age and repetition. Conclusions: This study suggests that cybersickness and postural adaptation to immersive VR are not age-dependent and that cybersickness is unrelated to a deficit in postural adaptation or age. Age does not seem to influence the properties of multisensory data fusion.

A machine learning approach to evaluate the impact of virtual balance/cognitive training on fall risk in older women

“…Future, more accurate and effective ML approaches will undoubtedly be inspired by current knowledge of how the brain works, as well as the new brain/organism models/approaches being developed and linking them to these bio-digital frontiers ( Benelli et al, 2023 ; Daşdemir, 2023 ; Yang et al, 2023 ). These and similar studies ( Chang et al, 2023 ; Souchet et al, 2023 ) indicate, as does our research, that we are still at the beginning of understanding the potentially beneficial and detrimental effects of digital worlds on their users, especially older adults ( Drazich et al, 2023 ; Séba et al, 2023 ).…”

“…These and similar studies (Chang et al, 2023;Souchet et al, 2023) indicate, as does 10.3389/fncom. 2024.1390208 our research, that we are still at the beginning of understanding the potentially beneficial and detrimental effects of digital worlds on their users, especially older adults (Drazich et al, 2023;Séba et al, 2023).…”

“…The proposed exercises and tasks allow participants/seniors to activate each muscle group, improve joint mobility, and enhance fitness using an attractive form of interactive games, cognitively engaging and creating an atmosphere of fun. However, being in virtual environments (VEs) can be associated with adverse symptoms of cybersickness ( Séba et al, 2023 ; Kourtesis et al, 2024 ). This is more often experienced by immersive VE participants, and very rarely by non-immersive VR users ( Venkatakrishnan et al, 2023 ; Sokołowska, 2024 ).…”