Profiling subjective symptoms and autonomic changes associated with cybersickness

Abstract

Our aim was to expand knowledge of cybersickness - a subtype of motion sickness provoked by immersion into a moving computer-generated virtual reality. Fourteen healthy subjects experienced a 15-min rollercoaster ride presented via a head-mounted display (Oculus Rift), for 3 consecutive days. Heart rate, respiration, finger and forehead skin conductance were measured during the experiment; this was complemented by a subjective nausea rating during the ride and by Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire before, immediately after and then 1, 2 and 3h post-ride. Physiological measurements were analysed in three dimensions: ride time, association with subjective nausea rating and experimental day. Forehead, and to a lesser extent finger phasic skin conductance activity showed a correlation with the reported nausea ratings, while alteration in other measured parameters were mostly related to autonomic arousal during the virtual ride onset. A significant habituation was observed in subjective symptom scores and in the duration of tolerated provocation. The latter increased from 7.0±1.3min on the first day to 12.0±2.5min on the third day (p<0.05); this was associated with a reduced slope of nausea rise from 1.3±0.3units/min on the first to 0.7±0.1units/min on the third day (p<0.01). Furthermore, habituation with repetitive exposure was also determined in the total symptom score post-ride: it fell from 1.6±0.1 on the first day to 1.2±0.1 on the third (p<0.001). We conclude that phasic changes of skin conductance on the forehead could be used to objectively quantify nausea; and that repetitive exposure to provocative VR content results in habituation.

Brain Activation by H1 Antihistamines Challenges Conventional View of Their Mechanism of Action in Motion Sickness: A Behavioral, c-Fos and Physiological Study in Suncus murinus (House Musk Shrew)

“…However, from the pressure waveforms, we could reliably identify emetic events, with burst analysis showing approximately 6.5 retches/vomits per episode, which is similar to that recorded in other studies of either conscious (6.5 ± 0.2 retches/episode) or anesthetized (7.1 ± 0.7 retches/episode) Suncus murinus (Andrews et al, 1996; Huang et al, 2011). We also identified that respiratory rate increased by ~59%, with a concurrent 28% reduction in tidal volume (inspiratory time also reduced) during motion; increases in respiratory rate of the order of about 4–12% are also seen in humans experiencing nausea induced by a simulated roller coaster ride (Gavgani et al, 2016) and in dogs motion-induced emesis may also be accompanied by panting (Crampton, 1990). A recently published clinical study demonstrated that motion also induced an increase of respiratory rate, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production, and these effects were more prominent in highly-susceptible participants (Chen et al, 2016).…”

“…These experiments were performed in animals implanted with radiotelemetry devices to permit recording of the gastric myoelectric activity (GMA) and body temperature, since alteration of gastric slow waves and hypothermia has been associated with motion-induced nausea in humans (Stern et al, 1987; Nalivaiko et al, 2015). We also recorded respiratory function, which is also disturbed during nausea and interrupted during emesis (Cowings et al, 1986; Himi et al, 2004; Gavgani et al, 2016; Horn et al, 2016). The collection of physiological data in Suncus murinus was also done in conjunction with an assessment of behavior to quantify side effects and to provide an insight into behaviors that collectively may be indicative of “nausea” (Horn et al, 2011, 2013).…”

Factors Associated With Virtual Reality Sickness in Head-Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Despite advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology, many people still report experiencing simulator sickness symptoms from its use (Rebenitsch and Owen, 2016;Gavgani et al, 2017;Duzmanska et al, 2018;Guna et al, 2019). Characterizing and quantifying these symptoms is challenging, as several factors are at play including a diverse range of technologies; the use of inconsistent terminology for sickness from using virtual environments; little consensus on the biological mechanisms of symptoms; the diverse range of VR content; along with user characteristics such as age and sex (Hale and Stanney, 2014).…”

Factors associated with virtual reality sickness in head-mounted displays: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Despite advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology, many people still report experiencing simulator sickness symptoms from its use (Dużmańska, Strojny, & Strojny, 2018;Gavgani, Nesbitt, Blackmore, & Nalivaiko, 2017;Guna et al, 2019;Rebenitsch & Owen, 2016).…”