Cybersickness

Cybersickness is a form of motion sickness precipitated by exposure to immersive digital displays, especially virtual reality (VR). It arises when visual motion cues presented by the display conflict with the body's vestibular and proprioceptive signals, or when sensory processing is taxed by high cognitive load. Cybersickness is also referred to as VR sickness or simulator sickness.

Common contributing factors include latency between head movements and visual update, low frame rates, wide or unstable fields of view, and mismatches between self-motion and optic flow. Teleportation or vignetting can reduce effects. Individual susceptibility varies and may be influenced by prior motion sickness history, age, migraines, vestibular disorders, and fatigue.

Symptoms resemble traditional motion sickness and may include nausea, dizziness, headache, eyestrain, fatigue, sweating, and disorientation. Onset is often during exposure, usually within minutes, and symptoms can linger briefly after removal from the display.

Cybersickness is assessed mainly in research and usability contexts using questionnaires such as the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) or Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ). It is not a clinical diagnosis, but severe or persistent symptoms warrant cessation of exposure and medical advice as needed. Risk factors include gender differences reported in some studies, prior sickness history, vestibular issues, and longer or more intense sessions.

Management emphasizes gradual acclimation, breaks, and hardware or software adjustments: higher refresh rates, lower latency, reduced FOV during intense motion, stable locomotion methods, and comfort settings. Preventive design and user education are key to reducing cybersickness in VR and related technologies.