Motion sickness, body movement, and claustrophobia during passive restraint

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 177; no. 4; pp. 520 - 532
• Main Authors: FAUGLOIRE, Elise, BONNET, Cédrick T, RILEY, Michael A, BARDY, Benoit G, STOFFREGEN, Thomas A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.03.2007; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Series: Experimental brain research
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Clocks - physiology; Cognitive science; Etiology; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Models, Neurological; Motion Perception - physiology; Motion sickness; Motion Sickness - complications; Motion Sickness - physiopathology; Motion Sickness - psychology; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Movement - physiology; Neuropsychological Tests; Observer Variation; Phobic Disorders - etiology; Phobic Disorders - physiopathology; Phobic Disorders - psychology; Photic Stimulation; Postural Balance - physiology; Proprioception - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Restraint, Physical - adverse effects; Space Perception - physiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Human; Physical restrain; Claustrophobia; Motionsickness; Body movement; Posture; Neurological; Movement; Phobic Disorders; Proprioception; Humans; Male; Reaction Time; Neuropsychological Tests; Physical; Adolescent; Space Perception; Adult; Female; Restraint; Surveys and Questionnaires; Models; Biological Clocks; Photic Stimulation; Motion Perception; Motion Sickness; Observer Variation; Postural Balance
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-006-0700-7

Standing participants were passively restrained and exposed to oscillating visual motion. Thirty-nine percent of participants reported motion sickness. Despite passive restraint, participants exhibited displacements of the center of pressure, and prior to the onset of motion sickness the evolution of these displacements differed between participants who later became sick and those who did not. Claustrophobia occurred during restraint, but only among participants who became motion sick. The results are consistent with the postural instability theory of motion sickness. We discuss the possible relation between claustrophobia symptoms, postural movements and motion sickness incidence.