Cybersickness in Different Multisensory Conditions in Virtual Reality

Analysis of Cortical Activity in Individuals With Cybersickness Under the Influence of Multi-sensory Conditions in Virtual Reality: a Randomized Crossover Study

Cybersickness (CS) is characterized as a type of visually induced motion sickness, similar to traditional motion sickness, with specific clinical presentations such as dizziness, eyestrain, oculomotor disorders, blurred vision and spatial disorientation. It can be triggered when experiencing virtual reality (VR), and it affects approximately 20% to 80% of individuals who use these resources. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms of CS are not fully understood and the use of virtual environments that have become increasingly recurrent in several sectors deserves attention, as VR is becoming commonplace in methods and techniques of assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Objective: to analyze cortical electrophysiological activity using electroencephalography (EEG) in individuals with SC, under the influence of different audiovisual conditions. Methodology: The study is a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial, the sample for survey satisfaction N= 10 participants, the public were university students from the Universidade Federal do Delta Parnaíba (UFDPar) of both sexes, aged between 18 to 28 years, those who agreed, underwent screening, those who met the criteria and fit, were randomized and allocated to one each of 02 conditions, (C1 - video only) and (C2 - associated with binaural audio), three times in each condition, with a duration of 10 minutes of immersion, with evaluation (pre) before (post) with QEEG and Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), exposure to virtual content was on regular alternate days, with a 24-hour interval between each virtual exposure, at the end of each condition, there will be a 14-day washout and crossover between the conditions. The study will be carried out under all cleaning and prevention care in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, data collection will be at the Brain Mapping and Functionality Laboratory (LAMCEF) of the Federal University of Delta do Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. Results: The condition with binaural stimulation is expected to promote neuromodulation and reduction of CS symptoms, compared to the control condition.

Objectives

General Objective

• Analyze whether the electrophysiological activity of the brain cortex of individuals with cybersickness undergoes neuromodulation through binaural stimuli;

Specific Objectives

• Investigate whether stimulation by binaural beats can mitigate the degree of symptoms through the SSQ;
• Compare whether there is a significant reduction in Sickness Questionare Simulator scores between conditions;
• Check if there is a difference in absolute power in the Delta band frequency of the parietal and frontal regions between the conditions;

Hypothesis

Our hypothesis is that the condition associated with binaural beats can promote neuromodulation in the electrophysiological activity of the brain cortex, altering the rhythms of brain wave frequencies, which can reduce sensory conflict in cybersickness, through wave entrainment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants must have normal or corrected to normal vision
• Participant must have a history of visually induced motion sickness

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cannot present vestibular disorders
• Claustrophobia
• Epileptic seizures
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• psychoactive drug use
• Neurological disorders
• Considerable hearing loss