Unleashing the Potential of ß -cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes in Bitter Taste Abatement: Development, Optimization and Evaluation of Taste Masked Anti-emetic Chewing Gum of Promethazine Hydrochloride.

Motion sickness also known as kinetosis is a condition in which there exists a disagreement between visually perceived movement and the vestibular system's sense of movement. Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, and headache are the most common symptoms of motion sickness. This study mainly focuses on the taste masking of Promethazine Hydrochloride (PMZ) by inclusion complexation method, its formulation development in the chewing gum form by using directly compressible gum base HIG® and its quality and performance testing. Different molar ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4) of PMZ-cyclodextrin complexes were prepared by using ß-Cyclodextrin (ß-CD) as a taste masking agent. These complexes were evaluated for FTIR, DSC, % Entrapment Efficiency, % drug yield, and taste evaluation by E-Tongue. The optimized ratio was further evaluated by sophisticated analytical techniques such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). A central composite design (CCD) (3 ^2) was utilized to examine the effects of independent variables (amount of gum-X1 and amount of plasticizer-X2) on dependent variables (%CDRY1 and hardness Y2). The prepared gums were evaluated for drug content, organoleptic properties, in-vitro dissolution testing by fabricated disintegration apparatus, texture analysis, etc. The optimization statistics showed that on decreasing the amount of gum, in- vitro drug release increases and hardness decreases. The optimized batch MCG-2 of Promethazine MCG showed 92.34 ± 0.92% of drug release, whereas for marketed formulation (Phenergan®-25 mg) drug release value was 86.19 ± 1.88%. Results provided evidence that PMZ MCGs could be a better alternative to conventional tablet formulations with improved drug release, palatability and texture.

The Vestibular Time Constant and Clinical Response to Antimotion Sickness Medication.

OBJECTIVE: The therapeutic effects of antimotion sickness medications involve suppression of several components along the vestibular system. Scopolamine-based medications have proved to be the most effective anti-seasickness agents. However, there is high variability in individual responses. The vestibular nuclei, in which the vestibular time constant is modulated, contain acetylcholine receptors which are affected by scopolamine. The hypothesis of the study was that successful seasickness prevention by scopolamine requires vestibular suppression to be reflected by the shortening of the vestibular time constant. DESIGN: Subjects were 30 naval crew members suffering from severe seasickness and were treated with oral scopolamine. The study participants were defined as responsive or non-responsive to the anti-seasickness medication according to the clinical outcome: successful response to scopolamine was defined as a reduction of seasickness severity from the highest score of 7 according to the Wiker scale to 4 or less. Scopolamine and placebo were assigned to each subject in a crossover, double-blind design. The horizontal semicircular canal time constant was evaluated by a computerized rotatory chair before, 1 and 2 hours after drug or placebo administration. RESULTS: The vestibular time constant was significantly shortened from 16.01 ± 3.43 seconds to 12.55 ± 2.40 seconds ( p < 0.001) in the scopolamine-responsive group but not in the nonresponsive group. In contrast, vestibular time constant values were 13.73 ± 4.08 and 12.89 ± 4.48 for baseline and 2 hours measurements, respectively. This change was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in the vestibular time constant after scopolamine administration can be used to predict whether motion sickness alleviation will occur. This will enable the administration of appropriate pharmaceutical treatment without the need for prior exposure to sea conditions.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation to counteract leans illusion: comparing step and ramped waveforms.

Leans is a common type of Spatial Disorientation (SD) illusion that causes pilots to be confused about the position of the aircraft during a flight. This illusion could lead to serious adverse effects and even flight mishaps. Therefore, an effective means to deal with leans is crucial for flight safety. This study aims to investigate the effects of Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) technology with different waveforms as a tool to mitigate the negative effects of leans. 20 Air Force pilots participated in leans-induced flight simulation experiment with three GVS conditions (without-GVS, step-GVS, ramped-GVS). Bank angle error, subjective SD, perceived strength, and annoyance were measured as the dependent variables. Analysis revealed that step-GVS and ramped-GVS yielded lower bank angle errors and subjective SD than without-GVS. In addition, annoyance ratings were lower for ramped-GVS than step-GVS. This study suggests that GVS has the potential to be utilised as a counteracting tool to cope with leans.Practitioner summary: Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) can be utilised as a tool to counteract the detrimental effects of leans illusion, specifically the ramped style GVS, considering that it is less annoying and distracting for the pilots. In general, GVS induces a roll sensation that can offset the false sensation caused by the leans, which can potentially help maintain flight safety and avoid spatial disorientation-related accidents.Abbreviations: SD: spatial disorientation; GVS: galvanic vestibular stimulation; MSSQ: motion sickness susceptibility questionniare; SSQ: simulator sickness questionnaire; BLE: bluetooth low energy; PCB: printed circuit board; RPM: revolution per minute.

Emotions are associated with the genesis of visually induced motion sickness in virtual reality.

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a well-known side effect of virtual reality (VR) immersion, with symptoms including nausea, disorientation, and oculomotor discomfort. Previous studies have shown that pleasant music, odor, and taste can mitigate VIMS symptomatology, but the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. We predicted that positive emotions influence the VIMS-reducing effects. To investigate this, we conducted an experimental study with 68 subjects divided into two groups. The groups were exposed to either positive or neutral emotions before and during the VIMS-provoking stimulus. Otherwise, they performed exactly the same task of estimating the time-to-contact while confronted with a VIMS-provoking moving starfield stimulation. Emotions were induced by means of pre-tested videos and with International Affective Picture System (IAPS) images embedded in the starfield simulation. We monitored emotion induction before, during, and after the simulation, using the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) valence and arousal scales. VIMS was assessed before and after exposure using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and during simulation using the Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS) and FMS-D for dizziness symptoms. VIMS symptomatology did not differ between groups, but valence and arousal were correlated with perceived VIMS symptoms. For instance, reported positive valence prior to VR exposure was found to be related to milder VIMS symptoms and, conversely, experienced symptoms during simulation were negatively related to subjects' valence. This study sheds light on the complex and potentially bidirectional relationship of VIMS and emotions and provides starting points for further research on the use of positive emotions to prevent VIMS.

Chewing gum reduces visually induced motion sickness.

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a common side-effect of exposure to virtual reality (VR). Its unpleasant symptoms may limit the acceptance of VR technologies for training or clinical purposes. Mechanical stimulation of the mastoid and diverting attention to pleasant stimuli-like odors or music have been found to ameliorate VIMS. Chewing gum combines both in an easy-to-administer fashion and should thus be an effective countermeasure against VIMS. Our study investigated whether gustatory-motor stimulation by chewing gum leads to a reduction of VIMS symptoms. 77 subjects were assigned to three experimental groups (control, peppermint gum, and ginger gum) and completed a 15-min virtual helicopter flight, using a VR head-mounted display. Before and after VR exposure, we assessed VIMS with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), and during the virtual flight once every minute with the Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS). Chewing gum (peppermint gum: M = 2.44, SD = 2.67; ginger gum: M = 2.57, SD = 3.30) reduced the peak FMS scores by 2.05 (SE = 0.76) points as compared with the control group (M = 4.56, SD = 3.52), p < 0.01, d = 0.65. Additionally, taste ratings correlated slightly negatively with both the SSQ and the peak FMS scores, suggesting that pleasant taste of the chewing gum is associated with less VIMS. Thus, chewing gum may be useful as an affordable, accepted, and easy-to-access way to mitigate VIMS in numerous applications like education or training. Possible mechanisms behind the effect are discussed.

Ameliorative Effect of Hesperidin Against Motion Sickness by Modulating Histamine and Histamine H1 Receptor Expression.

Motion sickness (MS) is the visceral discomfort caused due to contradicting visual and vestibular inputs to the brain leading to nausea and vomiting. Sensory conflict theory which proves histamine elevations as the primary reason for MS provides a path for an effective pharmaco-therapy. We aimed to evaluate the anti-MS effect of hesperidin (HSP) by modulating histamine and histamine receptor H1 (HRH1) expression. The inhibitory effect of HSP on histamine release was studied in KU812 cells treated with 10 µM calcium ionophore. The in vivo anti-MS effect of HSP was evaluated in Balb/c mice. Thirty six mice were divided into six groups namely, normal control (NC, no rotation), hesperidin at 80 mg/kg body weight control (HSP80, no rotation), motion sickness (MS, rotation induced), dimenhydrinate (Standard drug) at 20 mg/kg body weight + rotation (STD + MS), hesperidin at 40 mg/kg body weight + rotation (HSP40 + MS) and hesperidin at 80 mg/kg body weight + rotation (HSP80 + MS). Hypothalamus and brainstem samples were analysed for histamine levels and HRH1 expression by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Calcium ionophore treated KU812 cells significantly increased histamine release when compared to control cells. Pre-treatment with HSP inhibited histamine, HRH1 mRNA and protein expression. Histamine, HRH1 mRNA and protein expression in hypothalamus and brainstem samples of MS group increased significantly when compared to the NC group. Pre-treatment with HSP significantly reduced histamine, HRH1 mRNA and protein expression. Thus, indicating that HSP has a potent anti- MS effect by decreasing the elevated levels of histamine, HRH1 mRNA and protein expression in hypothalamus and brainstem regions.

Visual Occlusion Decreases Motion Sickness in a Flight Simulator.

Sensory conflict theories of motion sickness (MS) assert that symptoms may result when incoming sensory inputs (e.g., visual and vestibular) contradict each other. Logic suggests that attenuating input from one sense may reduce conflict and hence lessen MS symptoms. In the current study, it was hypothesized that attenuating visual input by blocking light entering the eye would reduce MS symptoms in a motion provocative environment. Participants sat inside an aircraft cockpit mounted onto a motion platform that simultaneously pitched, rolled, and heaved in two conditions. In the occluded condition, participants wore "blackout" goggles and closed their eyes to block light. In the control condition, participants opened their eyes and had full view of the cockpit's interior. Participants completed separate Simulator Sickness Questionnaires before and after each condition. The posttreatment total Simulator Sickness Questionnaires and subscores for nausea, oculomotor, and disorientation in the control condition were significantly higher than those in the occluded condition. These results suggest that under some conditions attenuating visual input may delay the onset of MS or weaken the severity of symptoms. Eliminating visual input may reduce visual/nonvisual sensory conflict by weakening the influence of the visual channel, which is consistent with the sensory conflict theory of MS.

The efficacy of airflow and seat vibration on reducing visually induced motion sickness.

Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is a well-known sensation in virtual environments and simulators, typically characterized by a variety of symptoms such as pallor, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, and/or nausea. Numerous methods to reduce VIMS have been previously introduced; however, a reliable countermeasure is still missing. In the present study, the effect of airflow and seat vibration to alleviate VIMS was investigated. Eighty-two participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups (airflow, vibration, combined airflow and vibration, and control) and then exposed to a 15 min long video of a bicycle ride shot from first-person view. VIMS was measured using the Fast Motion Sickness Scale (FMS) and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). Results showed that the exposure of airflow significantly reduced VIMS, whereas the presence of seat vibration, in contrast, did not have an impact on VIMS. Additionally, we found that females reported higher FMS scores than males, however, this sex difference was not found in the SSQ scores. Our findings demonstrate that airflow can be an effective and easy-to-apply technique to reduce VIMS in virtual environments and simulators, while vibration applied to the seat is not a successful method.

Effect of passengers' active head tilt and opening/closure of eyes on motion sickness in lateral acceleration environment of cars.

This study examined the effect of passengers' active head-tilt and eyes-open/eyes-closed conditions on the severity of motion sickness in the lateral acceleration environment of cars. In the centrifugal head-tilt condition, participants intentionally tilted their heads towards the centrifugal force, whereas in the centripetal head-tilt condition, the participants tilted their heads against the centrifugal acceleration. The eyes-open and eyes-closed cases were investigated for each head-tilt condition. In the experimental runs, the sickness rating in the centripetal head-tilt condition was significantly lower than that in the centrifugal head-tilt condition. Moreover, the sickness rating in the eyes-open condition was significantly lower than that in the eyes-closed condition. The results suggest that an active head-tilt motion against the centrifugal acceleration reduces the severity of motion sickness both in the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. They also demonstrate that the eyes-open condition significantly reduces the motion sickness even when the head-tilt strategy is used. Practitioner Summary: Little is known about the effect of head-tilt strategies on motion sickness. This study investigated the effects of head-tilt direction and eyes-open/eyes-closed conditions on motion sickness during slalom automobile driving. Passengers' active head tilt towards the centripetal direction and the eyes-open condition greatly reduce the severity of motion sickness.

A comparison of techniques to mitigate Simulator Adaptation Syndrome.

We investigated the effectiveness of galvanic cutaneous stimulation (GCS) and auditory stimulation in mitigating simulator adaptation syndrome (SAS). Fifteen drivers (9 men; M age = 23.2 years) participated in a driving simulation experiment comparing three different stimulation conditions (GCS, auditory stimulation and no stimulation as a base line condition) in curves on a virtual urban circuit. GCS and auditory stimulation decreased SAS by reducing head sway. Both sources of stimulation can be recommended as countermeasures against SAS. We encourage the use of stimuli which influence the balancing ability to the design of future simulator protocols and devices to mitigate SAS. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: We have provided evidence on the effectiveness of two different stimuli as countermeasures against simulator adaptation syndrome (SAS). We concluded that the positive impact of body sway might play a role in SAS and therefore encourage the use of stimuli which influence the balancing ability to mitigate the symptoms of SAS.

Formulation of Eco-friendly Medicated Chewing Gum to Prevent Motion Sickness.

An attempt was made to formulate medicated chewing gum to prevent motion sickness using natural gum base for faster onset of action and easy administration, anywhere and anytime, without access to water. To avoid the discard issue of gum cud, natural gum base of Triticum aestivum (wheat grain) was explored because of its biodegradable and biocompatible nature and easy availability. Prolamin, extracted from wheat, showed good chewing capacity, elasticity, high water retention capacity, antifungal activity, and compatibility with the drug. Formulations were prepared based on a two-factor and three-level factorial design. Amount of calcium carbonate (texturizer) and gum base were selected as independent variables. Elasticity and drug release were considered as the dependent variables. All batches were evaluated for the content uniformity, elasticity study, texture study, in vitro drug release study, and chewiness study. Results revealed that medicated chewing gum containing 80 mg of calcium carbonate and 500 mg of gum base showed good elasticity and more than 90% drug release within 16 min. Thus, this study suggested that both good elasticity and chew ability and abundant availability of wheat grain can act as a potential gum base for medicated chewing gum.

Prevention and treatment of motion sickness.

Motion sickness is a common syndrome that occurs upon exposure to certain types of motion. It is thought to be caused by conflict between the vestibular, visual, and other proprioceptive systems. Although nausea is the hallmark symptom, it is often preceded by stomach awareness, malaise, drowsiness, and irritability. Early self-diagnosis should be emphasized, and patients should be counseled about behavioral and pharmacologic strategies to prevent motion sickness before traveling. Patients should learn to identify situations that will lead to motion sickness and minimize the amount of unpleasant motion they are exposed to by avoiding difficult conditions while traveling or by positioning themselves in the most stable part of the vehicle. Slow, intermittent exposure to the motion can reduce symptoms. Other behavioral strategies include watching the true visual horizon, steering the vehicle, tilting their head into turns, or lying down with their eyes closed. Patients should also attempt to reduce other sources of physical, mental, and emotional discomfort. Scopolamine is a first-line medication for prevention of motion sickness and should be administered transdermally several hours before the anticipated motion exposure. First-generation antihistamines, although sedating, are also effective. Nonsedating antihistamines, ondansetron, and ginger root are not effective in the prevention and treatment of motion sickness.

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.

Alpha tACS on Parieto-Occipital Cortex Mitigates Motion Sickness Based on Multiple Physiological Observation.

Approximately one third of the population is prone to motion sickness (MS), which is associated with the dysfunction in the integration of sensory inputs. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has been widely used to modulate neurological functions by affecting neural oscillation. However, it has not been applied in the treatment of motion sickness. This study aims to investigate changes in brain oscillations during exposure to MS stimuli and to further explore the potential impact of tACS with the corresponding frequency and site on MS symptoms. A total of 19 subjects were recruited to be exposed to Coriolis stimuli to complete an inducing session. After that, they were randomly assigned to tACS stimulation group or sham stimulation group to complete a stimulation session. Electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiogram, and galvanic skin response were recorded during the experiment. All the subjects suffering from obvious MS symptoms after inducing session were observed that alpha power of four channels of parieto-occipital lobe significantly decreased (P7: t =3.589, p <0.001; P8: t =2.667, p <0.05; O1: t =3.556, p <0.001; O2: t =2.667, p <0.05). Based on this, tACS group received the tACS stimulation at 10Hz from Oz to CPz. Compared to sham group, tACS stimulation significantly improved behavioral performance and entrained the alpha oscillation in individuals whose alpha power decrease during the inducing session. The findings show that parieto-occipital alpha oscillation plays a critical role in the integration of sensory inputs, and alpha tACS on parieto-occipital can become a potential method to mitigate MS symptoms.

Reduction of motion sickness with an enhanced placebo instruction: an experimental study with healthy participants.

OBJECTIVE: Expectancy and conditioning are underlying mechanisms of placebo and nocebo responses. In previous studies with motion sickness, we could induce nocebo responses by both methods, but no placebo responses. METHODS: In Experiment 1, 64 volunteers (50% women, mean age = 23.5 years) were evaluated to determine the degree they realized speed changes in nauseogenic rotation. For Experiment 2, 32 volunteers (50% women, mean age = 26.0 years) were exposed to fast rotation (15 rounds per minute, or rpm) on Day 1. On Day 2, they either received a drink with a presumed effective antiemetic (actually placebo) or were told they belonged to the control group. Rotation was surreptitiously reduced (to 10 rpm). On Day 3, they were tested with the initial rotation speed. Outcome variables in both experiments were symptom ratings; additionally in Experiment 2, the number of nauseogenic head movements, tolerated rotation time, and electrogastrogram were analyzed for changes between Days 1 and 2 (expectancy plus speed reduction) and Days 1 and 3 (expectancy plus conditioning). RESULTS: In Experiment 1, a dose-response function was established for different rotation speeds, with the smallest perceived difference between 10 and 15 rpm. In Experiment 2, placebo application induced better maximal symptom rating, head movement, and rotation time at Day 2 (F = 3.097, p = .043) and Day 3 (F = 3.401, p = .031). Electrogastrogram was unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Verbal suggestions combined with a conditioning procedure are effective in reducing symptoms of motion sickness.

Simultaneous transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation mitigates simulator sickness symptoms in healthy adults: a crossover study.

BACKGROUND: Flight simulators have been used to train pilots to experience and recognize spatial disorientation, a condition in which pilots incorrectly perceive the position, location, and movement of their aircrafts. However, during or after simulator training, simulator sickness (SS) may develop. Spatial disorientation and SS share common symptoms and signs and may involve a similar mechanism of dys-synchronization of neural inputs from the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a maneuver used for pain control, was found to influence autonomic cardiovascular responses and enhance visuospatial abilities, postural control, and cognitive function. The purpose of present study was to investigate the protective effects of TENS on SS. METHODS: Fifteen healthy young men (age: 28.6 ± 0.9 years, height: 172.5 ± 1.4 cm, body weight: 69.3 ± 1.3 kg, body mass index: 23.4 ± 1.8 kg/m2) participated in this within-subject crossover study. SS was induced by a flight simulator. TENS treatment involved 30 minutes simultaneous electrical stimulation of the posterior neck and the right Zusanli acupoint. Each subject completed 4 sessions (control, SS, TENS, and TENS + SS) in a randomized order. Outcome indicators included SS symptom severity and cognitive function, evaluated with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and d2 test of attention, respectively. Sleepiness was rated using the Visual Analogue Scales for Sleepiness Symptoms (VAS-SS). Autonomic and stress responses were evaluated by heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary stress biomarkers (salivary alpha-amylase activity and salivary cortisol concentration). RESULTS: Simulator exposure increased SS symptoms (SSQ and VAS-SS scores) and decreased the task response speed and concentration. The heart rate, salivary stress biomarker levels, and the sympathetic parameter of HRV increased with simulator exposure, but parasympathetic parameters decreased (p < 0.05). After TENS treatment, SS symptom severity significantly decreased and the subjects were more able to concentrate and made fewer cognitive test errors (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Sympathetic activity increased and parasympathetic activity decreased after simulator exposure. TENS was effective in reducing SS symptoms and alleviating cognitive impairment. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register: http://ACTRN12612001172897.

Motion sickness adaptation to Coriolis-inducing head movements in a sustained G flight simulator.

BACKGROUND: Technological advances have allowed centrifuges to become more than physiological testing and training devices; sustained G, fully interactive flight simulation is now possible. However, head movements under G can result in vestibular stimulation that can lead to motion sickness (MS) symptoms that are potentially distracting, nauseogenic, and unpleasant. In the current study an MS adaptation protocol was tested for head movements under +Gz. METHODS: Experienced pilots made 14 predetermined head movements in a sustained G flight simulator (at 3 +Gz) on 5 consecutive days and 17 d after training. Symptoms were measured after each head turn using a subjective 0-10 MS scale. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was also administered before and after each daily training session. RESULTS: After five daily training sessions, normalized mean MS scores were 58% lower than on Day 1. Mean total, nausea, and disorientation SSQ scores were 55%, 52%, and 78% lower, respectively. During retesting 17 d after training, nearly all scores indicated 90-100% retention of training benefits. DISCUSSION: The reduction of unpleasant effects associated with sustained G flight simulation using an adaptation training protocol may enhance the effectiveness of simulation. Practical use of sustained G simulators is also likely to be interspersed with other types of ground and in-flight training. Hence, it would be undesirable and unpleasant for trainees to lose adaptation benefits after a short gap in centrifuge use. However, current results suggest that training gaps in excess of 2 wk may be permissible with almost no loss of adaptation training benefits.

Motion sickness prevention by an 8-Hz stroboscopic environment during air transport.

INTRODUCTION: Previous research has shown that retinal slip can be a significant factor in causing motion sickness. Stroboscopic illumination may prevent retinal slip by providing snapshots of the visual environment that are brief enough so each image is stationary on the retina. METHODS: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an 8-Hz stroboscopic environment as a motion sickness countermeasure for passengers during a nauseogenic flight in a helicopter. The study population was comprised of 18 motion sickness susceptible subjects. Subjects completed a motion sickness symptom questionnaire, a psychomotor vigilance test, weapons utilization tasks, a time estimation task, and a sustained attention task after nauseogenic flights with and without 8-Hz stroboscopic illumination in the cabin. RESULTS: Baseline-corrected scores of self-reported nausea were significantly lower after the stroboscopic condition (M = 36.57 +/- 6.95) than the nonstroboscopic condition (M = 50.88 +/- 7.36). Furthermore, the stroboscopic condition resulted in significantly better performance on the vigilance task than the nonstroboscopic condition. However, baseline-corrected scores of oculomotor symptoms were greater after the stroboscopic condition (M = 33.27 +/- 5.52) than the nonstroboscopic condition (M = 24.85 +/- 4.10). DISCUSSION: These results support the use of stroboscopic illumination as a nonpharmacologic countermeasure for motion sickness related to retinal slip. However, due to the uncontrolled nature of the flights, the possibility that these results could have been influenced by differences in motion between flights cannot be excluded. This technology should be investigated in other forms of transportation (i.e., ground vehicles).

Leaning-Based Interfaces Improve Ground-Based VR Locomotion in Reach-the-Target, Follow-the-Path, and Racing Tasks.

Using standard handheld interfaces for VR locomotion may not provide a believable self-motion experience and can contribute to unwanted side effects such as motion sickness, disorientation, or increased cognitive load. This paper demonstrates how using a seated leaning-based locomotion interface -HeadJoystick- in VR ground-based navigation affects user experience, usability, and performance. In three within-subject studies, we compared controller (touchpad/thumbstick) with a more embodied interface ("HeadJoystick") where users moved their head and/or leaned in the direction of desired locomotion. In both conditions, users sat on a regular office chair and used it to control virtual rotations. In the first study, 24 participants used HeadJoystick versus Controller in three complementary tasks including reach-the-target, follow-the-path, and racing (dynamic obstacle avoidance). In the second study, 18 participants repeatedly used HeadJoystick versus Controller (8 one-minute trials each) in a reach-the-target task. To evaluate potential benefits of different brake mechanisms, in the third study 18 participants were asked to stop within each target area for one second. All three studies consistently showed advantages of HeadJoystick over Controller: we observed improved performance in all tasks, as well as higher user ratings for enjoyment, spatial presence, immersion, vection intensity, usability, ease of learning, ease of use, and rated potential for daily and long-term use, while reducing motion sickness and task load. Overall, our results suggest that leaning-based interfaces such as HeadJoystick provide an interesting and more embodied alternative to handheld interfaces in driving, reach-the-target, and follow-the-path tasks, and potentially a wider range of scenarios.

Preliminary Evaluation of an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment to Prevent Motion Sickness.

INTRODUCTION: Motion sickness affecting military pilots and aircrew can impact flight safety and, if severe, can lead to disqualification from flight status. However, due to the common adverse effects of motion sickness pharmaceuticals (e.g., drowsiness), medication options are severely limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential utility of a nonpharmaceutical method for motion sickness prevention, specifically an osteopathic manipulative technique (OMT).METHODS:A novel OMT protocol for the reduction of motion sickness symptoms and severity was evaluated using a sham-controlled, counterbalanced, between-subjects study design. The independent variable was OMT treatment administered prior to the motion sickness-inducing procedure (rotating chair). The primary dependent measures were total and subscale scores from the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire.RESULTS:The OMT treatment group experienced significantly fewer gastrointestinal (mean scores postprocedure, treatment M = 20.42, sham M = 41.67) and sopite-related (mean scores postprocedure, treatment M = 12.81, sham M = 20.68) symptoms than the sham group while controlling for motion sickness susceptibility. There were no differences between groups with respect to peripheral and central symptoms.DISCUSSION:The results suggest that the treatment may prevent gastrointestinal (nausea) and sopite-related symptoms (sleepiness). These preliminary findings support further exploration of OMT for the prevention of motion sickness. A more precise evaluation of the mechanism of action is needed. Additionally, the duration of the effects needs to be investigated to determine the usefulness of this technique in training and operational settings.Thomas VA, Kelley AM, Lee A, Fotopoulos T, Boggs J, Campbell J. Preliminary evaluation of an osteopathic manipulative treatment to prevent motion sickness. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(12):934-938.