Space Motion Sickness and Motion Sickness: Symptoms and Etiology
Abstract
The adverse symptoms of space motion sickness (SMS) have remained problematic since the beginning of manned spaceflight. Despite over 50 yr of research SMS remains a problem that affects about half of all space travelers during the first 24-72 h of a spaceflight. SMS has been treated as another form of motion sickness (MS) despite distinct differences in symptomology. In this review SMS and MS differences are examined and documented based on available data. Vestibular biomechanics that occur during weightlessness coupled with theoretical assertions regarding human evolution have led us to propose a two-component model of SMS. The first component involves conflicting sensory signals inherent to the otolith organs that occur during weightlessness. The second component is a bimodal conflict between the otoliths and semicircular canals that can occur during normal head movements in weightlessness. Both components may inadvertently, and mistakenly, signal that a vestibular malfunction has occurred, hence initiating a protective mechanism that may produce symptoms that discourage activity.
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In weightless conditions of space flight, changed control of body orientation and vestibular alterations (otolith unloading) are extremely provocative during the first several days.
“This changed control of the body and the alterations in vestibular function (unloading of the otolith organs) occurring in weightless conditions are extremely provocative during the first several days of space flight (Lackner and DiZio 1989, 2006; Lackner et al. 1991; Thornton and Bonato 2013).”
From Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting (2014) · cites this paper as Thornton and Bonato 2013
During initial days of Skylab missions, astronauts became motion sick simply by making head and body movements.
“During the initial days of the missions, the astronauts, however, did become motion sick simply by virtue of making head and body movements.”
From Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting (2014) · cites this paper as Thornton and Bonato 2013
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Motion sickness: more than nausea and vomiting
Lackner, J. R. (2014) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-014-4008-8 · Cited by 314 · see citing works
“Being in a weightless environment alters the sensory motor control of the head as an inertial mass, and we now know that such alterations are provocative per se (Lackner and DiZio 1989, 2006; Lackner and Graybiel 1980, 1986b; Oman 1987; Oman et al. 1986, 1990; Thornton and Bonato 2013).”
BackgroundSkeletal changes during and after spaceflight
Vico, L., & Hargens, A. (2018) · Nature Reviews Rheumatology · doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2018.37 · Cited by 236 · see citing works
Yates, B. J., Catanzaro, M. F., Miller, D. J., & McCall, A. A. (2014) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-014-3937-6 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
- Authors
- Thornton, W. E., & Bonato, F.
- Affiliations
- Montclair State University (US)
- Venue
- Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
- Publisher
- Aerospace Medical Association
- Published
- 2013-07-01
- Volume
- 84
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 716-721
- ISSN
- 0001-9402 (ISSN-L)
- 0095-6562
- OpenAlex
- W2043593259
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5
- FWCI
- 2.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Cardiovascular Syncope and Autonomic Disorders
- Keywords
- space motion sickness, motion sickness, microgravity, otolith organs, semicircular canals, sensory conflict, two-component model, etiology, clinical symptoms, human evolution, spaceflight
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Motion Sickness, Vestibular Diseases, Space Motion Sickness
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