simulator sickness

Virtual Reality (VR) offers an immersive 3D digital environment, but enabling natural walking sensations without the constraints of physical space remains a technological challenge. Previous VR locomotion methods, including game controller, teleportation, treadmills, walking-in-place, and redirected walking (RDW), have made strides towards overcoming this challenge. However, these methods also face limitations such as possible unnaturalness, additional hardware requirements, or motion sickness risks. This paper introduces "Spatial Contraction (SC)", an innovative VR locomotion method inspired by the phenomenon of Lorentz contraction in Special Relativity...

BACKGROUND: In this study, we examined the utility of simultaneous scalp and stereotactic intracranial electroencephalography (SSIEEG) in epilepsy patients. Although SSIEEG offers valuable insights into epilepsy and cognitive function, its routine use is uncommon. Challenges include interpreting post-craniotomy scalp EEG due to surgically implanted electrodes. NEW METHOD: We describe our methodology for conducting SSIEEG recordings. To simulate the potential impact on EEG interpretation, we computed the leadfield of scalp electrodes with and without burrholes using Finite Element Analysis to compare the resulting sensitivity volume and waveforms of simulated intracranial signals between skulls with and without burrholes...

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility of the clinical use of a novel Virtual Reality (VR) training software designed to be used for active vision therapy in amblyopic patients by determining its preliminary safety and acceptance on the visual function of healthy adults. METHODS: Pilot study enrolling 10 individuals (3 men, 7 women, mean age: 31.8 ± 6.5 years) with a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of ≥ .90 (decimal) in both eyes were evaluated before and after 20 minutes of exposure to the NEIVATECH VR system using the HTC Vive Pro Eye head mounted display...

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Exposure to high-risk situations in virtual reality (VR) has been suggested to have a potential therapeutical benefit, but no previous study has combined VR and CBT for AUD. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of using VR-simulated high-risk environments in CBT-based treatment of AUD. METHODS: We randomized ten treatment-seeking AUD-diagnosed individuals to three sessions of conventional CBT or VR-assisted CBT performed at two outpatient clinics in Denmark...

Human locomotion is most naturally achieved through walking, which is good for both mental and physical health. To provide a virtual walking experience to seated users, a system utilizing foot vibrations and simulated optical flow was developed. The current study sought to augment this system and examine the effect of an avatar's cast shadow and foot vibrations on the virtual walking experience and cybersickness. The omnidirectional movie and the avatar's walking animation were synchronized, with the cast shadow reflecting the avatar's movement on the ground...

Together with the wide range of possible benefits for the rehabilitation/training of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and other neurologic conditions, exposure to immersive virtual reality (VR) has often been associated with unpleasant symptoms, such as transient dizziness, headache, nausea, disorientation and impaired postural control (i.e., cybersickness). Since these symptoms can significantly impact the safety and tolerability of the treatment, it appears important to correctly estimate their presence and magnitude...

Life history theory indicates that individuals/species with a slow pace of life invest more in acquired than innate immunity. Factors that decrease the pace of life and predict greater investment in acquired immunity include increased nutritional resources, increased pathogen exposure and decreased risk of extrinsic mortality. Common care behaviors given to sick individuals produce exactly these effects: provisioning increases nutritional resources; hygiene assistance increases disease exposure of carers; and protection can reduce the risk of extrinsic mortality to sick individuals...

Tanaka, Shota, Koshi Nakagawa, Yosuke Kanagawa, Takashi Katsurahara, Kazuki Kozakai, Ken Tsuhako, Fumitaka Yoshikawa, Soh Gotoh, Kensuke Osanai, Madoka Sono, Hironori Inoue, Shuji Sakanashi, Hiroyuki Takahashi, and Hideharu Tanaka. Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in avalanche victims with a single rescuer: a prospective, crossover, manikin pilot study. High Alt Med Biol . 25:60-67, 2024. Background: Winter outdoor recreational activities such as off-piste skiing have gained popularity and, as a result, the number of avalanche-related deaths has increased...

Aim: Acute and chronic noncancer pain is a common healthcare problem locally and globally, and remains under treated and poorly controlled. We created a virtual reality (VR)-based prototype with customization of content to our local population. Materials & methods: This was an open-label, single center, single-arm study to examine the safety, acceptability and tolerability of the use of VR as an adjunctive tool for pain relief in hospitalized patients. The participants rated their baseline and post-VR pain and anxiety scores...

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that affects occupational and social functioning. Virtual reality (VR) therapies can provide effective treatment for people with SAD. However, with rapid innovations in immersive VR technology, more contemporary research is required to examine the effectiveness and concomitant user experience outcomes (ie, safety, usability, acceptability, and attrition) of emerging VR interventions for SAD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness and user experience of contemporary VR interventions among people with SAD...

BACKGROUND: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are parasitic and bacterial diseases that affect approximately 149 countries, mainly the poor population without basic sanitation. Among these, African Human Trypanosomiasis (HAT), known as sleeping sickness, shows alarming data, with treatment based on suramin and pentamidine in the initial phase and melarsoprol and eflornithine in the chronic phase. Thus, to discover new drugs, several studies point to rhodesain as a promising drug target due to the function of protein degradation and intracellular transport of proteins between the insect and host cells and is present in all cycle phases of the parasite...

INTRODUCTION: Human access to space is expanding rapidly in the commercial environment, with various private companies offering commercial flights to spaceflight participants (SFPs). SFPs are more likely than career astronauts to have medical conditions novel to spaceflight and may not have undergone as rigorous a medical screening process as that used for career astronauts, representing new and unstudied risks in the spaceflight environment. We report participation of a subject with recent median sternotomy for aortic valve replacement and atrial septal defect closure in centrifuge-simulated dynamic phases of orbital and suborbital spaceflight...

Guo, Xinqi, Hongyu Ma, Ziye Cui, Qiyue Zhao, Ying Zhang, Lu Jia, Liping Zhang, Hui Guo, Xiangjian Zhang, Yi Zhang, Yue Guan, and Huijie Ma. Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia reduces hypothalamic N -Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptor activity and sympathetic outflow in spontaneously hypertensive rats. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2024. Objective: This study aims to determine the role of hypothalamic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the antihypertensive effect of chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH)...

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information about the optimal setup of multiple screen configurations in virtual reality (VR) office work. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different screen configurations on neck flexion, rotation, neck muscle activity, and simulator sickness symptoms during Virtual Reality (VR) office work. METHODS: Twelve participants (7 males; 21 to 27 years old) performed copy-paste and drag-drop tasks in three different screen configurations (single screen, primary-secondary screen, and double screen) in a randomized order...

OBJECTIVE: To establish an animal model of high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), to explore the altitude and oxygen partial pressure conditions that can lead to obvious clinical manifestations of HACE, and to lay the foundation for further research of the pathogenic mechanisms and intervention strategies of HACE. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice of 8 weeks old were randomly assigned to Control and HACE groups. The Control group ( n =10) was treated with normobaric and normoxic conditions, while the HACE groups were placed in hypobaric hypoxic (HH) chambers for the durations of 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively, receiving treatments of simulated HH conditions at the altitudes of 4000 m ( n =10 for each group receiving different durations of HH treatment), 5000 m ( n =10 for each group receiving different durations of HH treatment), and 6000 m ( n =10 for each group receiving different durations of HH treatment)...

Hand motor impairments are one of the main causes of disabilities worldwide. Rehabilitation procedures like mirror therapy are given crucial importance. In the traditional setup, the patient moves the healthy hand in front of a mirror; the view of the mirrored motion tricks the brain into thinking that the impaired hand is moving as well, stimulating the recovery of the lost hand functionalities. We propose an innovative mirror therapy system that leverages and couples cutting-edge technologies. Virtual reality recreates an immersive and effective mirroring effect; a soft hand exoskeleton accompanies the virtual visual perception by physically inducing the mirrored motion to the real hand...

Stationarity perception refers to the ability to accurately perceive the surrounding visual environment as world-fixed during self-motion. Perception of stationarity depends on mechanisms that evaluate the congruence between retinal/oculomotor signals and head movement signals. In a series of psychophysical experiments, we systematically varied the congruence between retinal/oculomotor and head movement signals to find the range of visual gains that is compatible with perception of a stationary environment...

Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in saliva is the most important immunoglobulin fighting pathogens in the respiratory tract and may thus play a role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections. To gain a better understanding of the plasticity in the mucosal antibody, we investigated the proactive change in secretion of salivary SARS-CoV-2-specific sIgA in 45 vaccinated and/or previously infected, generally healthy persons (18 to 35 years, 22 women). Participants were exposed to a disease video displaying humans with several respiratory symptoms typical for COVID-19 in realistic situations of increased contagion risk...

INTRODUCTION: Quantifying inert gas wash-out is crucial to understanding the pathophysiology of decompression sickness. In this study, we developed a portable closed-circuit device for measuring inert gas wash-out and validated its precision and accuracy both with and without human subjects. METHODS: We developed an exhalate monitor with sensors for volume, temperature, water vapor and oxygen. Inert gas volume was extrapolated from these inputs using the ideal gas law...

BACKGROUND: In long-distance spaceflight, the challenges of communication delays and the impracticality of rapid evacuation necessitate the management of medical emergencies by onboard physicians. Consequently, these physicians must be proficient in tools, such as ultrasound, which has proven itself a strong diagnostic imaging tool in space. Yet, there remains a notable gap in the discourse surrounding its efficacy in handling acute medical scenarios. This scoping review aims to present an updated analysis of the evidence supporting the role of ultrasound in diagnosing acute conditions within microgravity environments...