Sensory Conflict Theory

 

                                                                  Motion Sickness 

One of the earliest recorded descriptions comes from Hippocrates (5th century BCE). He wrote about nausea and vomiting triggered by sea travel, recognizing that the condition was linked to motion rather than illness or poisoning. 

 

 

Sensory Conflict Theory

The "Sensory Conflict" Theory: In 1881, Dr. John Arthur Irwin officially coined the term "motion sickness" to unify conditions like sea, train, and car sickness, proposing the "sensory conflict" theory. This theory suggests sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the eyes, inner ear, and body.

 

 

 

General mechanism of carsickness based on the sensory conflict theory when a passenger gazes at an in-vehicle display. (Kato and Kitazaki)

 

 

 

 

American psychologist and philosopher William James (1842-1910) found that deaf-mutes were resistant to the development of seasickness. 

 

 

 

 

Sensory Conflict To Sensory Mismatch Theory

 The Sensory Mismatch Theory — often used interchangeably with the sensory conflict theory — is the most widely accepted explanation for motion sickness.

The modern theory is most strongly associated with: James T. Reason and John J. Brand

Their landmark 1975 book: Motion Sickness formally articulated what became the sensory conflict (neural mismatch) theory.

 

 

 

 

Mechanism Of Motion Sickness

 

 

 Snapshot