Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Chuck Huffman on 13/06/2008 15:35:10
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Chuck Huffman asked the Naked Scientists:
Why is it that I sometimes get car sick when riding as the passenger in a car, but when I change places and become the driver the car sickness goes away?
What do you think?
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Chuck Huffman asked the Naked Scientists:
Why is it that I sometimes get car sick when riding as the passenger in a car, but when I change places and become the driver the car sickness goes away?
What do you think?
Maybe because your occupied. Psycho-somatic-systoms.
'In other words, just from wondering wether the wedding is on or off, a person, can develop a cough' [:)]
It's a good song.
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Chuck Huffman asked the Naked Scientists:
Why is it that I sometimes get car sick when riding as the passenger in a car, but when I change places and become the driver the car sickness goes away?
What do you think?
I believe its rather like working on a moving belt. You keep your eye on the objects on the belt and not the belt that moves the object along.. so as a driver you have your eye on the objects ahead of you mostly and little on the road your moving past! Now as a passenger you will find your self watching out the side window as well and you are seeing things seemingly move behind you while you seem to be sitting still. it can make you sick just like working on a belt line.. or conveyor belt... it can make you sick if you watch the belt moving under the products..
I know thats confusing but it plays tricks on your equilibrium and can make you naucious. Try to look at the objects coming at you and not off to the side too much unless you focus on the stable object not the things passing so quickly or the road disappearing under the car!
I hope that helps.. I have been both car sick as a passenger as well as sick on a conveyor belt.. you have to learn to focus on the object and not the road dissappearing under you or the trees your passing motion thing,,etc..
EYES FORWARD AND SLIGHTLY UP.. LOOK FOR AND AT THE OBJECTS AHEAD AND NOT BESIDE OR BEHIND AS THAT CAN THROW YOU OFF AS WELL!
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Motion sickness is thought to result from the balance system (from the mechanisms in your inner ear) being in apparant conflict with data from your eyes. The brain does not know what to make of it and therefore, obviously makes you throw up :-) It is actually thought that the confused effect on the brain is similar to the effects of poisoning by a neurotoxin (like alcohol) so there may be innate reasons why this happens.
I go sailing but also sometimes get seasick, especially if I have not sailed for a while so I think you can get used to the motion. It always helps to keep my eyes on the horizon and it also helps to be doing something like taking the helm. I suspect that psychology plays a part too.