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. 2023 May;241(5):1381-1391.
doi: 10.1007/s00221-023-06603-y. Epub 2023 Apr 5.

Measuring the susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness and its relationship with vertigo, dizziness, migraine, syncope and personality traits

Ivana Lukacova  1 , Behrang Keshavarz  2   3 , John F Golding  4
Affiliations

Measuring the susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness and its relationship with vertigo, dizziness, migraine, syncope and personality traits

Ivana Lukacova et al. Exp Brain Res. 2023 May.

Abstract

The widespread use of visual technologies such as Virtual Reality increases the risk of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS). Previously, the 6-item short version of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ short form) has been validated for predicting individual variation in VIMS. The aim of the current study was to investigate how the susceptibility to VIMS is correlated with other relevant factors in the general population. A total of 440 participants (201 M, 239F), mean age 33.6 (SD 14.8) years, completed an anonymous online survey of various questionnaires including the VIMSSQ, Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ), Vertigo in City questionnaire (VIC), Migraine (scale), Social & Work Impact of Dizziness (SWID), Syncope (faintness), and Personality ('Big Five' TIPI). The VIMSSQ correlated positively with the MSSQ (r = 0.50), VIC (r = 0.45), Migraine (r = 0.44), SWID (r = 0.28), and Syncope (r = 0.15). The most efficient Multiple Linear Regression model for the VIMSSQ included the predictors MSSQ, Migraine, VIC, and Age and explained 40% of the variance. Factor analysis of strongest correlates with VIMSSQ revealed a single factor loading with VIMSSQ, MSSQ, VIC, Migraine, SWID, and Syncope, suggesting a common latent variable of sensitivity. The set of predictors for the VIMSSQ in the general population has similarity with those often observed in patients with vestibular disorders. Based on these correlational results, we suggest the existence of continuum of underlying risk factors for sensitivity, from healthy population to patients with extreme visual vertigo and perhaps Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.

Keywords: Age; MSSQ; Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness; Sex; Survey; VIMSSQ; Vestibular; Virtual Reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic diagram illustrating the influences of State and Trait factors in determining individual susceptibility to motion sickness and VIMS. See text for details
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ) total score
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A scatterplot of the relationship between the Visually Induced Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (VIMSSQ) total score and the Motion Sickness Susceptibility Questionnaire (MSSQ) score. The dotted lines represent the 95% CIs shown on either side of the fitted regression line. Each point represents an individual person, some points may overlap and represent more than one individual
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Multiple Linear Regression prediction of susceptibility to visually induced motion sickness measured by the VIMSSQ using the predictors MSSQ, Migraine, VIC, an Age. The standardised predictor is shown on the x-axis, with the beta values of the individual predictors. Dotted lines represent the 95%CIs shown on either side of the fitted regression line. Each point represents an individual person, some points may overlap and represent more than one individual
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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