Mullen TJ, Berger RD, Cohen RJ, Oman CM.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1991 May; 62: 466.
Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139.
INTRODUCTION: The role of the autonomic nervous system in motion sickness is controversial. Previous studies of baroreflex heart rate regulation have revealed consistent changes in the transfer function relating instantaneous lung volume (ILV) and instantaneous heart rate (IHR) due to alteration in posture or pharmacologic blockade (Appel et. al., J Am Coll Cardiol 14:1139-48, 1989). Broadband ILV input is created using a paced random breathing paradigm. The frequency specific changes seen have been related to sympathetic/parasympathetic contributions. Do similar changes occur in motion sickness? METHOD: Eighteen subjects (ages 18-30 yrs, 11 male, 7 female) participated. Control recordings of ILV (Respitrace, inductance plethysmography) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were made during two 15 minute random breathing periods. During the first period, subjects were seated motionless and during the second they were seated in a chair which rotated about an earth vertical axis. Each subject was then fitted with a pair of prism goggles which reversed the left-right visual field and was asked to perform a pre-specified series of manual tasks until moderate levels of motion sickness (including nausea, pallor and sweating) were attained. A relatively constant level of sickness was then maintained via periodic eye closure during rotation with the goggles. ILV and ECG were recorded during this motion sick condition while the subject completed a third random breathing sequence. RESULTS: Statistical comparisons of ILV to IHR transfer functions failed to reveal a significant change in autonomic control of heart rate during motion sickness, either across the subject population or within individual subjects. CONCLUSION: The absence of change does not support the widely held view that motion sickness symptoms are associated with a generalized change in autonomic balance.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Baroreflex
- Electrocardiography
- Female
- Heart Rate
- Male
- Motion Sickness
- Motor Activity
- Posture
- Research
- Respiration
- Rotation
- analysis
- physiology
- NASA Discipline Neuroscience
- NASA Discipline Number 16-10
- NASA Program Space Physiology and Countermeasures
- Non-NASA Center
Other ID:
UI: 102212586
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