Date of Award
1987
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation was to re-examine previously reported correlates and to identify new correlates of susceptibility to motion sickness. Susceptibility to motion sickness was measured with questionnaires in studies 1 and 2, and with both questionnaires and rotation-induced sickness in study 3.;In study 1, it was found that males who were moderately susceptible to motion sickness performed significantly worse on tests of spatial ability than those who were more susceptible or more resistant. In females there was a non-significant trend for susceptibility to increase as performance on certain tests of spatial ability increased.;Study 2 attempted to identify additional correlates of susceptibility to motion sickness. In males and females, ratings of poor vision were significantly related to high motion sickness susceptibility. Rated susceptibility to vomit increased significantly as susceptibility increased. Handedness, body fat (weight to height ratio) and the presence of allergies were significantly related to susceptibility in females, but not in males.;Study 3 attempted to integrate the findings of studies 1 and 2 with previously reported findings concerning motion sickness susceptibility. High Spiral Aftereffect durations were significantly related to high motion sickness susceptibility in males and females, but there was also a significant non-linear component in this relationship. Absolute error on the Rod and Frame Test was significantly elevated in moderately resistant males and females, and the relationship between performance on a test of spatial ability and susceptibility in males showed a non-linear pattern similar to that found in study 1. A significant positive correlation between performance on a test of spatial ability and the Spiral Aftereffect duration was found.;Study 3 also examined the relationship of several measures of vision to motion sickness susceptibility. Males and females with good vision appeared to be more susceptible to motion sickness than males and females with poor vision. This is not what was predicted on the basis of study 2.;Finally, the frequency with which some symptoms of motion sickness, such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting, are elicited by a variety of everyday activities was found to correlate with motion sickness susceptibility in males and females. This finding suggests that certain factors related to the nausea and vomiting system may predispose individuals towards motion sickness.
Recommended Citation
Ladowsky, Ricki Lisa, "The Relationship Of Visual-perceptual Skills, Vision And Physical Attributes To Motion Sickness Susceptibility" (1987). Digitized Theses. 1654.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/1654