Effect of virtual reality and whole-body heating on motion sickness severity: A combined and individual stressors approach

Background: Virtual reality (VR) use is limited by the potential side effects of prolonged exposure to vection, leading to motion sickness. Air temperature (Ta) may exacerbate the severity of such side effects through a synergistic interaction. This study assessed the individual and combined impact of a hot Ta and VR on motion sickness severity. Method: Thirteen healthy volunteers were exposed to a 20 min visual stimulus, across four experimental conditions: N_CS: 22 °C Ta with computer screen; N_VR: 22 °C Ta with VR; H_CS: 35 °C Ta with computer screen; H_VR: 35 °C Ta with VR. Motion sickness was assessed via fast motion sickness scale (FMS) and simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Physiological indices of motion sickness including, sweat rate, rectal temperature, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were also examined. Results: FMS and SSQ ratings indicate a significant main effect for VR, increasing sickness severity (p < 0.001). A significant main effect of Ta was observed for SSQ, but not FMS ratings (FMS, p = 0.07; SSQ, p < 0.04). Despite trends towards synergism, no interaction (Ta × VR) was observed for FMS (p = 0.2) or SSQ scores (p = 0.07), indicating an additive response. Synergistic trends were also observed for sweat rate and CVC. Conclusion: Synergism between VR and heat on motion sickness remains unclear, possibly as a result of considerable inter-individual variation in the reported subjective responses. Understanding of the questions raised by this study inform safe working guidelines for the use of VR in commercial and occupational settings

Tales of diversity: Genomic and morphological characteristics of forty-six Arthrobacter phages

This article describes the isolation and genomic characterization of 46 phages from environmental samples at various geographic locations in the U.S. infecting a single Arthrobacter sp. strain

The Effects of an Arm Care Training Protocol on Shoulder Strength, Mobility, and Pain in Collegiate Softball Players

The purpose of this study was to determine whether an arm care program would improve shoulder strength and mobility while decreasing shoulder pain in female collegiate softball players. Participants (n=13) completed a 4 week training program, meeting 3 times per week (70-90 minutes per session). A variety of exercises were performed (internal/external rotation, scapular pushups, thoracic spine rotations, paloff press, etc.). Pain, internal rotation strength and mobility of the shoulder were tested before and after the 4 week training program. When compared to the pre-test, post-test results showed that mean glenohumeral internal rotation strength significantly increased by 4.8 lbs and mean glenohumeral internal rotation mobility increased by 8.5 degrees. In addition, mean reported shoulder pain decreased by 1.16 on the universal pain scale. In conclusion, this training regime proved to be very successful in both strengthening the shoulder, increasing overall mobility and also aiding in the decrease of perceived shoulder pain

Effect of virtual reality and whole-body heating on motion sickness severity: A combined and individual stressors approach

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) use is limited by the potential side effects of prolonged exposure to vection, leading to motion sickness. Air temperature (Ta) may exacerbate the severity of such side effects through a synergistic interaction. This study assessed the individual and combined impact of a hot Ta and VR on motion sickness severity.MethodThirteen healthy volunteers were exposed to a 20 min visual stimulus, across four experimental conditions: N_CS: 22°C Ta with computer screen; N_VR: 22°C Ta with VR; H_CS: 35°C Ta with computer screen; H_VR: 35°C Ta with VR. Motion sickness was assessed via fast motion sickness scale (FMS) and simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Physiological indices of motion sickness including, sweat rate, rectal temperature, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were also examined.ResultsFMS and SSQ ratings indicate a significant main effect for VR, increasing sickness severity (pConclusionSynergism between VR and heat on motion sickness remains unclear, possibly as a result of considerable inter-individual variation in the reported subjective responses. Understanding of the questions raised by this study inform safe working guidelines for the use of VR in commercial and occupational settings.</div

Effect of virtual reality and whole-body heating on motion sickness severity: A combined and individual stressors approach

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) use is limited by the potential side effects of prolonged exposure to vection, leading to motion sickness. Air temperature (Ta) may exacerbate the severity of such side effects through a synergistic interaction. This study assessed the individual and combined impact of a hot Ta and VR on motion sickness severity.MethodThirteen healthy volunteers were exposed to a 20 min visual stimulus, across four experimental conditions: N_CS: 22°C Ta with computer screen; N_VR: 22°C Ta with VR; H_CS: 35°C Ta with computer screen; H_VR: 35°C Ta with VR. Motion sickness was assessed via fast motion sickness scale (FMS) and simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ). Physiological indices of motion sickness including, sweat rate, rectal temperature, cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were also examined.ResultsFMS and SSQ ratings indicate a significant main effect for VR, increasing sickness severity (pConclusionSynergism between VR and heat on motion sickness remains unclear, possibly as a result of considerable inter-individual variation in the reported subjective responses. Understanding of the questions raised by this study inform safe working guidelines for the use of VR in commercial and occupational settings.</div

A preliminary investigation into the effect of nauseogenic vection and whole-body heating on motion sickness severity: a combined and individual stressors approach [Abstract]

Introduction: The use of virtual reality for training, medical and recreational applications is limited by the side effects of prolonged exposure to vection. Secondary factors such as ambient temperature may be crucial in modulating the onset and severity of these side effects. To understand the role of environmental temperature in modulating nausea in virtual reality, this preliminary investigation explored the differential impacts a hot ambient temperature and vection on motion sickness severity using an individual and combined stressors approach. Methods: Thirteen healthy individuals (eight female, five male, 25 ± 3 yrs) watched a 22 min pre-recorded driving simulator clip sequence across four experimental conditions; N_C: 22 ̊C ambient temperature with computer screen, N_VR: 22 ̊C ambient temperature with VR headset, H_C: 35 ̊C ambient temperature with computer screen, H_VR: 35 ̊C ambient temperature with VR headset. Subjective measures for visually induced motion sickness were explored using the fast motion sickness scale (FMS; 0-20 visual analogue scale) and the simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ) both during and following exposure to each condition. To explore the effect of vection and whole-body heating on physiological indices of motion sickness, local sweat rate (via ventilated sweat capsules), rectal temperature, skin blood flow (via laser Doppler flowmetry), skin temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were examined. Results: FMS and SSQ ratings indicate a significant main effect for vection, increasing sickness severity (Δ in FMS, 3.7 ± 2.6 and SSQ, 8.7 ± 7.3; p0.1). However, a visual inspection of sweat rate data again revealed a noticeable difference in the magnitude of mean change between H_C and H_VR, compared that for N_C and N_VR, indicating signs of an interaction. A similar trend found for cutaneous vascular conductance. Conclusion: The principal finding provides no significant evidence for interaction between a temperature and vection on perceived VIMS ratings, yet a trend for synergism observed in the SSQ scores immediately following exposure. Physiological assessment of sweat rate and cutaneous vascular conductance, variables known to change in the presence of motion sickness, also show initial trends towards synergistic interaction (vection*temperature). Close inspection of the data shows partial evidence for responders and non-responders, thus potentially masking the presence of any possible interaction which may be otherwise seen in those who respond. Investigation into the combined stress of heat and true motion, for direct comparison to the current study, provides an intriguing area for future investigation