Biomechanology, Neuro-Biomechanics, and Neurology

Motion Sickness (sea, car, train, and aeroplane sickness) and Space Sickness

First published in 2003 - Last edited in May 2022 by Luka Tunjic. © All rights reserved.

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Motion sickness (sea, car, train, and aeroplane sickness) is an example of a temporary neurological disorder.

1) Space sickness is caused by weightlessness (absence of gravity).

2) Carsickness, seasickness, and airsickness are caused by altered gravity.

Travelling on the ship on rough seas, we frequently experience a slow rise (as a wave lifts the boat) and a slow fall (the wave causes the boat to fall).

In the moment of slow lift up, the human body experience gravity forces greater than 1G (hyper-gravity). In the moment of slow fall, it is exposed to a strength of gravity forces less than 1G (microgravity - less than 1Gg but greater than 0G).

Travelling on a ship on rough seas is like travelling on a moving platform (the ship repeatedly goes up and down and sways from one side to another).

On large, modern ships with stabilizers, seasickness is uncommon.

Travelling on a ship on a quiet sea or large, modern vessels with stabilizers are used is almost like standing, seating, or walking on solid ground.

Travelling on a ship in a quiet sea or on large, modern vessels with stabilizers is almost like standing, seating, or walking on solid ground.

Simplifying the theory of seasickness is: The frequent change in the strength of gravity is the cause of seasickness.

By travelling by car and aeroplane, the human body is frequently experiencing altering gravity due to acceleration and deceleration.

Train sickness is less common because the train travels straighter and seldom steers up and down a hill. The only time for speeding usually is when the train leaves the station. The only slowing down is usually when the train arrives at a station. Thus, the passengers experience altered gravity to a small extent. That explains why train sickness is less common than an aeroplane and car sickness.

Airsickness and seasickness are caused by changing gravity.

Trainsickness is caused by changing gravity and uncommon or unusual visual stimulation (watching through a side window while travelling in a speeding train, car, etc.). Interestingly, seasickness, airsickness, carsickness, and trainsickness affect mainly (if not only) passengers.

The explanation likely is that passengers are passively affected by altered gravity or uncommon visual or sound stimulation. The operators of the transport devices are in a more active state of mind when they are affected by modified gravity and unusual visual or sound stimulation.

The motion does not cause sea, car, or aeroplane sickness. Still, the frequent alteration in the force of gravity that acts on the human body causes motion sickness.

It seems that "Motion sickness" is not appropriate to describe health conditions caused by changing gravity. Instead, a proper term would be "changing gravity sickness."

1) Space Sickness Sea, Car, Train, and Airplane sickness are Temporary Neurological Disorder characterized by motion/movement disorders. (As long as motion/movement disorder persists, neurological disorder lasts.)

2) Space Sickness, Sea Sickness, Car Sickness, Train Sickness, and Airplane Sickness are also Temporary Motion/Movement Disorders characterized by neurological disorders.

Neurological and movement disorders are in an interactive relationship. a) Neurological disorder lasts as long as a movement/motion disorder lasts. b) Movement/motion disorder lasts as long as neurological disorder lasts.

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