Motion sickness affects approximately one in three people, causing nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision. To understand what causes it, experts point to the “sensory conflict theory,” which suggests that conflicting signals from the body’s visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems can lead to motion sickness.
Visual stimuli, proprioception, and the vestibular system work together to help our bodies sense movement and balance. However, when these mechanisms are out of sync, sensory conflict occurs, triggering symptoms like nausea and dizziness. This is why people often experience motion sickness when watching movies or playing video games that simulate motion, such as virtual reality.
The type of movement that causes motion sickness varies from person to person. While some may get sick on high-speed rides like roller coasters, others are more susceptible to motion sickness in slower movements like driving a bus or rocking boat. Age, genetics, and individual differences in adaptation can also play a role in who experiences motion sickness.
To reduce the effects of motion sickness, experts recommend behavioral measures such as sitting in the front seat, keeping eyes on the horizon, avoiding reading and screens, and using ginger to alleviate nausea. Pharmacological options like over-the-counter medication and transdermal patches may be effective for some individuals, but timing and dosage are crucial.
Ultimately, habituation is often the most effective way to overcome motion sickness, requiring repeated exposure to the stimulus until it becomes less bothersome.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/may/19/what-causes-motion-sickness