ABSTRACT

Motion sickness (MS) is a familiar and ancient malady: “Sailing the ocean was known to be highly nauseating in ancient Greece” (Hippocrates, as cited in Reason & Brand, 1975). Almost all of us have suffered at least once from MS while sailing on a boat, riding in a bus or car, ªying in an airplane, or riding the rollercoaster. Exposure to highly sickening motions initially elicits sudden warmth (sometimes with ªushing), cold sweat, dizziness, mild stomach symptoms, headache, and pallor (Lawson, 2001). As sickness worsens, the sufferer may experience severe nausea, increased salivation, and retching or vomiting. Drowsiness may occur with these other symptoms or in isolation (Graybiel & Knepton, 1976; Lawson & Mead, 1998). Although the phrase motion sickness implies a clinical malady, every healthy person-with the possible exception of people suffering from vestibular loss (e.g., bilateral hypofunction)—can become motion sick when exposed to certain stimuli. Once severe MS symptoms have set in, it may take hours to fully recover. Only a small percentage of the population suffers from severe MS during stimuli that would not disturb others; such persons also tend to be poor adapters and less responsive to medications (Birren, 1949; Reason, 1978b).