Motion sickness reduction through vibro-motor reprocessing therapy: A first study

In order to reduce motion sickness (MS), a novel vibro-motor reprocessing therapy (VRT), based on an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) technique is investigated. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first time that reprocessing therapy has been evaluated for alleviating MS. Experimentally, MS was induced using visual stimulus of motion videos. Subjective MS was then recorded at baseline for both VRT and non-VRT stimulation conditions, and after each condition, evaluated using a Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ). MSAQ scores were compared for both conditions in eight test subjects, with a significant and clear reduction in motion sickness symptoms revealed when applying VRT stimulation. While the subject pool is small, this pilot study indicates that the proposed approach has potential for future exploration in terms of non-pharmacological treatment and management of MS.