The Soothing Symphony of Travel: How Music Impacts Motion Sickness
For those prone to the queasiness of travel, a new study offers a possibly harmonious solution: music. Researchers at Southwest University in China investigated the impact of different musical genres on motion sickness, aiming to pinpoint not only if music helps, but how it affects the brain during this unpleasant experiance.
The study began with a purposeful attempt to induce mild carsickness. Participants were subjected to a driving simulation designed to trigger motion sickness symptoms. To ensure a focused group, the researchers screened potential participants, ultimately selecting 30 individuals who had previously experienced moderate levels of carsickness.These participants were then equipped with electroencephalogram (EEG) caps, allowing scientists to monitor brain activity in real-time.
Participants were divided into six groups. Four groups listened to different types of music – joyful, soft, passionate, and sad - while one group experienced the simulation without any musical accompaniment.A final control group’s simulation was halted at the first sign of discomfort, providing a baseline for brain activity without the full experience of nausea.This comparative group allowed researchers to isolate the specific brain signals associated with carsickness itself.
The experiment involved a driving task followed by a period of rest or music listening. Participants consistently reported their level of carsickness throughout the process. the results were striking: joyful music proved the most effective at alleviating symptoms,reducing carsickness by a notable 57.3%. Soft music closely followed, with a 56.7% reduction. Passionate music offered a respectable 48.3% decrease, while surprisingly, sad music was the least effective, showing only a 40% reduction in symptoms – even less than the 43.3% reported by the control group who simply rested.
Beyond symptom reporting, the EEG data revealed a interesting neurological connection. When participants reported feeling sick, researchers observed a decrease in the complexity of brain activity in the occipital lobe. As participants recovered, this activity returned to normal levels. The researchers hypothesize that soft music may reduce tension, a known exacerbator of carsickness, while joyful music could distract sufferers by activating the brain’s reward systems. conversely, sad music might amplify negative emotions, worsening discomfort.
though, the researchers caution that these findings are preliminary. Dr.Qizong Yue,lead author of the study,acknowledges a key limitation: “The primary limitation of this study is its relatively small sample size. This constraint results in limited statistical power.”
Future research will focus on replicating these results with larger participant groups,validating the identified EEG patterns as reliable indicators of motion sickness,and exploring the influence of personal musical preferences. The team also plans to investigate the effects of music on other forms of travel sickness, and to conduct studies in real-world travel scenarios, recognizing that the brain may respond differently to actual roads and seas compared to simulations.
Despite the need for further investigation, the initial findings are encouraging. As Dr. Yue concludes, “Based on our conclusions, individuals experiencing motion sickness symptoms during travel can listen to cheerful or gentle music to achieve relief.” The study suggests that this simple intervention could be broadly applicable, potentially easing discomfort not just on roads, but also during air and sea travel.
source: Li, Y., et al. (2025). A study on the mitigating effect of different music types on motion sickness based on EEG analysis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1636109