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To: Alamo-Girl
But isn't it the absence of a fixed reference point in the field of view that aggravates motion sickness?

I don't know. Personally, I get seasick well within sight of land. I think motion sickness is related to what goes on in our inner ear, which is something that the free-fall motion of the earth through space wouldn't affect at all.

381 posted on 10/07/2003 11:16:23 AM PDT by PatrickHenry (A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Or try "Virtual Ignore.")
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To: PatrickHenry
You've raised some very interesting points! Here are some digs on virtual reality related motion sickness for anyone interested:

Virtual Reality, Nausea, Virtual Simulation Sickness, Vision, Adverse symptoms,Head Movements and VR Sickness

Motion sickness or, more correctly, motion maladaptation syndrome is a condition that occurs when people (as well as fish and other animals) are exposed to real or apparent motion stimuli to which they are unfamiliar and hence unadapted (Benson, 1988). It has been recognised for more than a century that the term 'Motion Sickness' is a misnomer. Motion maladaptation syndrome is merely an indication of intact vestibular function and, as such, should be regarded as the norm rather than the exception...

The classic theory explaining the causation of motion sickness symptoms is that of Neural Mismatch. The theory is based on work from over a century ago (e.g., Irwin, 1881; James, 1882; Pollack, 1893) but it has only gained wide acceptance since it has been promoted in publications by Reason (1970, 1978), Reason and Brand (1975) and Oman (1982). Neural mismatch generally occurs when there is a conflict between signals received from either the visual system, or the vestibular systems and other gravireceptors. However, it can also happen when these signals differ from those expected by the central nervous system (CNS). It can also occur due to conflicts within the vestibular apparatus, i.e., between the semicircular canals and the otoliths.

I think this article leaves my original question on the table, when/how do we “adapt” to motion? And that leaves me wondering what in our genetic "programming" supports such adaptation, e.g. to gravity? More research to do! Yeehaw!

383 posted on 10/07/2003 11:34:33 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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