Effects of motion sickness on encoding and retrieval performance and on psychophysiological responses

• Motion sickness has previously been found to deteriorate performance, e.g., regarding psychomotor functions and short term memory. Sustained ability to perform, despite motion sickness, is crucial in complex working environments. This study focuses on effects of motion sickness on encoding and retrieval of words through the use of long term memory. In addition, the temporal development of different psychophysiological responses and their relationship with perceived motion sickness were investigated. Forty healthy participants performed an encoding and retrieval task during exposure to an optokinetic drum. The results were compared with data from 20 controls that performed the task without motion sickness exposure. Measurements of heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, blood volume pulse, respiration rate, and skin temperature were made throughout optokinetic drum exposure. Data analyses revealed no significant effects of moderate levels of motion sickness on the ability to encode or retrieve words. We found positive relationships between subjective motion sickness ratings and heart rate, blood volume pulse and skin temperature whereas respiration rate was negatively related to perceived motion sickness. The psychophysiological measurements did not show consistent patterns of sympathetic activation and parasympathetic withdrawal, as could be expected. Hence, they are not recommended as predictors of motion sickness.

Keyword

Motion sickness

memory

autonomic responses

performance

optokinetic drum

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)