New Research Links Motion Sickness to Visual-Vestibular Mismatch, Offers Tech-Based Solutions
Lisbon, Portugal – October 31, 2025, 10:30:23 WEST – A growing body of research is pinpointing the root cause of motion sickness – a disconnect between what your eyes perceive and what your inner ear senses - and surprisingly, your smartphone may hold a key to alleviating it. Affecting an estimated 25% of people, motion sickness can disrupt travel, work, and even virtual reality experiences. Scientists are now leveraging technology to address this sensory conflict, offering potential relief for millions.
Motion sickness isn’t a disease, but a normal reaction to conflicting signals sent to the brain. Your inner ear,responsible for balance,detects movement. However, if your eyes are focused on a stationary object – like the pages of a book, or the screen of a phone – the brain receives a contradictory message. This mismatch triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. The severity varies greatly, but understanding the underlying mechanism is driving new preventative strategies.
“The core issue is sensory conflict,” explains Dr. Mariana Silva, a neuroscientist at the University of Lisbon specializing in vestibular disorders. “When the visual input doesn’t align with the vestibular system’s perception of motion, the brain interprets this as a potential sign of neurotoxicity – essentially, a signal that something is wrong. The resulting symptoms are a protective mechanism.”
Historically,remedies have ranged from ginger and acupressure to medications like scopolamine. However, recent studies suggest that visual refocusing techniques, facilitated by smartphone apps, can be highly effective. Apps utilizing augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR) can create a stable visual horizon, even during turbulent motion.
One such app, developed by researchers at MIT, projects a virtual horizon onto the user’s field of vision, effectively providing the brain with the expected visual input corresponding to the detected movement. Early trials have shown a important reduction in symptoms for passengers in cars and on boats.
Furthermore, simply looking at the horizon outside a vehicle can provide similar benefits. Experts recommend avoiding reading or prolonged screen time during travel, and rather focusing on distant, stable points.
The research also highlights individual susceptibility. Factors like age, genetics, and prior experience with motion can all play a role. While a definitive cure remains elusive, the growing understanding of the visual-vestibular interaction, coupled with accessible technological solutions, offers a promising outlook for those prone to motion sickness. future research will focus on personalized interventions tailored to individual sensory profiles.
