Postural activity and motion sickness during video game play in children and adults

Abstract

Research has confirmed that console video games give rise to motion sickness in many adults. During exposure to console video games, there are differences in postural activity (movement of the head and torso) between participants who later experience motion sickness and those who do not, confirming a prediction of the postural instability theory of motion sickness. Previous research has not addressed relations between video games, movement and motion sickness in children. We evaluated the nauseogenic properties of a commercially available console video game in both adults and 10-year-old children. Individuals played the game for up to 50 min and were instructed to discontinue immediately if they experienced any symptoms of motion sickness, however mild. During game play, we monitored movement of the head and torso. Motion sickness was reported by 67% of adults and by 56% of children; these rates did not differ. As a group, children moved more than adults. Across age groups, the positional variability of the head and torso increased over time during game play. In addition, we found differences in movement between participants who later reported motion sickness and those who did not. Some of these differences were general across age groups but we also found significant differences between the movement of adults and children who later reported motion sickness. The results confirm that console video games can induce motion sickness in children and demonstrate that changes in postural activity precede the onset of subjective symptoms of motion sickness in children.

Control of a Virtual Avatar Influences Postural Activity and Motion Sickness

“…There are many anecdotal reports of motion sickness among users of high-fidelity, high-immersion console video games, such as Xbox, PlayStation, Wii, and Kinect. These reports have been confirmed experimentally (Chang, Pan, Tseng, & Stoffregen, 2012;Dong et al, 2011;Merhi, Faugloire, Flanagan, & Stoffregen, 2007;Stoffregen, Faugloire, Yoshida, Flanagan, & Merhi, 2008). Console video games are used in entertainment settings but also in many nonentertainment settings.…”

“…Motion sickness tended to increase with age, and by age 10 children did not differ from adults. As noted earlier, control of virtual ambulation can lead to motion sickness, as has been shown with research on console video games (Chang et al, 2012;Merhi et al, 2007;Stoffregen et al, 2008). Passive viewing of virtual ambulation can lead to motion sickness in adults (Warwick-Evans & Beaumont, 1995); however, we know of no research directly addressing the differential effects on motion sickness of the control of vehicular versus nonvehicular locomotion.…”

Cyber Sickness in Virtual Reality - Literature Review

“…It is a reflex that corrects the orientation of the body when it is taken out of its normal upright position. Various studies note that CS can effect 50-80 % of people, depending on the quality of the digital content and how it's presented [67]. Also, some studies show that women are more susceptible to MS than men, and those with a history of migraines or concussion also suffer a higher chance of getting motion sick [68].…”

A Biosymtic (Biosymbiotic Robotic) Approach to Human Development and Evolution

“…Overuse of sedentary SBCDs is associated with obesity, aggressive behaviors, anxiety, increased risk of depression, hyperactivity, attention problems, sleep disorders, attachment and obsessive-compulsive disorders, hand-arm vibration syndrome, bodily discomfort, reduction of physical and emotional awareness, poor fitness, photosensitive epilepsy, visual problems and motion sickness [1,8,11,39].…”