title: Motion sickness adaptation to Coriolis-inducing head movements in a sustained G flight simulator.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Technological advances have allowed centrifuges to become more than physiological testing and training devices; sustained G, fully interactive flight simulation is now possible. However, head movements under G can result in vestibular stimulation that can lead to motion sickness (MS) symptoms that are potentially distracting, nauseogenic, and unpleasant. In the current study an MS adaptation protocol was tested for head movements under +Gz.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experienced pilots made 14 predetermined head movements in a sustained G flight simulator (at 3 +Gz) on 5 consecutive days and 17 d after training. Symptoms were measured after each head turn using a subjective 0-10 MS scale. The Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) was also administered before and after each daily training session.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After five daily training sessions, normalized mean MS scores were 58% lower than on Day 1. Mean total, nausea, and disorientation SSQ scores were 55%, 52%, and 78% lower, respectively. During retesting 17 d after training, nearly all scores indicated 90-100% retention of training benefits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of unpleasant effects associated with sustained G flight simulation using an adaptation training protocol may enhance the effectiveness of simulation. Practical use of sustained G simulators is also likely to be interspersed with other types of ground and in-flight training. Hence, it would be undesirable and unpleasant for trainees to lose adaptation benefits after a short gap in centrifuge use. However, current results suggest that training gaps in excess of 2 wk may be permissible with almost no loss of adaptation training benefits.
authors: National Aerospace Training and Research Center, Southampton, PA 18966, USA. mnewman@nastarcenter.com
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Newman
authors: Geoffrey W
authors: GW
authors: McCarthy
authors: Scott T
authors: ST
authors: Glaser
authors: Frederick
authors: F
authors: Bonato
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bubka
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D003312:Coriolis Force; D006112:Gravitation; D019416:Head Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009041:Motion Sickness / Q000517:prevention & control*