Sound therapy effectively reduces motion sickness by stimulating inner ear (100 Hz for 1 min)

Medical Xpress / Nagoya University / Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine ^ | April 4, 2025 | Yishuo Gu et al

[ConservativeMind]

A research group has discovered that using "a unique sound stimulation technology"—a device that stimulates the inner ear—reduces motion sickness. Even a single minute of stimulation reduced the staggering and discomfort felt by people that read in a moving vehicle.

The results suggest a simple and effective way to treat this common disorder.

"Our study demonstrated that short-term stimulation using a unique sound called 'sound spice' alleviates symptoms of motion sickness, such as nausea and dizziness," Kagawa said. "The effective sound level falls within the range of everyday environmental noise exposure, suggesting that the sound technology is both effective and safe."

The discovery is an important expansion of recent findings about sound and its effect on the inner ear. Increasing evidence has suggested that stimulating the part of the inner ear associated with balance using a unique sound can potentially improve balance. Using a mouse model and humans, the researchers identified a unique sound at 100 Hz as being the optimal frequency.

"Vibrations at the unique sound stimulate the otolithic organs in the inner ear, which detect linear acceleration and gravity," Kato explained. "This suggests that a unique sound stimulation can broadly activate the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation."

To test the effectiveness of the devices, they recruited voluntary participants who were exposed to the unique sound. Following the stimulation, motion sickness was induced by a swing, a driving simulator, or riding in a car.

Exposure to the unique sound before being exposed to the driving simulator enhanced sympathetic nerve activation. The researchers found symptoms such as "lightheadedness" and "nausea," which are often seen with motion sickness, were alleviated.

"These results suggest that activation of sympathetic nerves, which are often dysregulated in motion sickness, was objectively improved by the unique sound exposure," Kato said.

[ConservativeMind]

The use of a 100 Hz sound for one minute made motion sickness basically go away for a while.

I will note the sound was 100 Hz, but I don’t know if it was a broken or steady tone.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Theophilus]

News you can use!

[Reverend Wright]

I know that the typical car suspension has a vertical natural frequency of approx 100 cycles per minute. (higher for performance cars)

When the natural frequency gets down to 60-70 cycles per minute, (which would be an extremely softly spring car) that’s where a lot of people start to get carsick etc.

It’s strange that an acoustic signal 60 times that would help.

[stockpirate]

Bump

[Red Badger]

Tinnitus Ring List!...........................>oo<

[sauropod]

bkmk

[rigelkentaurus]

Sound frequency generator - that’s easy enough to play on a PC or phone.

[GingisK]

I’d be willing to bet you have the equipment to experiment with that.

[GingisK]

have the equipment

Yep, found online tone generator right away.

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

Wife’s driving does that. Maybe if she just complained aloud more....