Theses - Daytona Beach Dissertations and Theses Summer 2007 Quantifying the Cognitive, Symptomatic and Neuroendocrine Impact of the Coriolis Illusion; A Countermeasure for Motion Sickness Catherine Grandizio Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses Part of the Aviation Commons, and the Cognitive Psychology Commons Scholarly Commons Citation Grandizio, Catherine, "Quantifying the Cognitive, Symptomatic and Neuroendocrine Impact of the Coriolis Illusion; A Countermeasure for Motion Sickness" (2007). Theses - Daytona Beach. 73. https://commons.erau.edu/db-theses/73 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach at ERAU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in the Theses - Daytona Beach collection by an authorized administrator of ERAU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running Head: QUANTIFYING THE COGNITIVE QUANTIFYING THE COGNITIVE, SYMPTOMATIC AND NEUROENDOCRINE IMPACT OF THE CORIOLIS ILLUSION; A COUNTERMEASURE FOR MOTION SICKNESS by CATHERINE GRANDIZIO B.A., Flagler College, 2005 A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Human Factors & Systems in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Human Factors and Systems Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FL Summer A 2007 UMI Number: EP32010 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI® UMI Microform EP32010 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 QUANTIFYING THE COGNITIVE, SYMPTOMATIC AND NEUROENDOCRINE IMPACT OF THE CORIOLIS ILLUSION; A COUNTERMEASURE FOR MOTION SICKNESS by Catherine Grandizio This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate's thesis committee chair, Jonathan French, Ph.D., Department of Human Factors & Systems, and has been approved by members of the thesis committee. It was submitted to the Department of Human Factors & Systems and has been accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Human Factors & Systems. THESIS COMMITTEE: i A ^AIAASC^-— Jonathan French, Ph.D., Chair Albert Boquet, Ph.D., Member OlA^. Charles Moren, M.S., Member MS HFS Program CoordiCoordinatom r Department Chair, Department of Human Factors & Systems Associate Provost u Abstract When pilots are unable to accurately perceive the position and motion of their bodies, they are spatially disoriented. Spatial disorientation is often induced by aviation illusions, and its consequences include dizziness, confusion, nausea and fatigue. The present research evaluated the severity of cognitive, neuroendocrine and subjective symptoms of the Coriolis illusion, induced by a spatial disorientation flight training device. Also, the research examined the effectiveness of a mild, ground-based countermeasure, similar to the Coriolis illusion, in reducing the occurrence and severity of symptoms. In the early stages of data analysis, there appeared to be a significant impact of the Coriolis illusion on cognitive performance and subjective reports of disorientation. However, when more powerful detailed were conducted, no significant impact of the Coriolis illusion was found. Therefore, conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the countermeasure or the duration of the symptoms could not be made. in Table of Contents Abstract iij List of Figures yi Introduction 1 Statement of the Problem 1 Review of the Literature 2 Spatial orientation 2 Spatial disorientation 8 Types of spatial disorientation 10 Motion sickness 11 Incidence of spatial disorientation and motion sickness 12 Susceptibility to spatial disorientation and motion sickness 13 Neuroendocrine response to motion sickness 13 Cognitive impact of motion sickness 15 Countermeasures 16 Statement of Hypotheses 17 Methods 18 Participants 18 Pre-exposure 19 Materials 20 Design 23 Procedure 24 Results 25 Hypothesis One 25 Neuroendocrine results 26 Cognitive results 27 Subjective results 30 Hypothesis Two 32 Neuroendocrine results 32 Cognitive results 33 Subjective results 35 Hypothesis Three 36 Neuroendocrine results 36 Cognitive results 36 Subjective results 37 Hypothesis Four 38 Discussion 39 Conclusion 42 References 43 Appendix B: Simulator Sickness Questionnaire 48 Appendix C: Motion History Questionnaire 49 Appendix D. Demographic Questionnaire 50 Appendix E. Informed Consent 51 IV List of Tables Table 1. Table of Means for Overall ANAM Performance 28 Table 2. Table of Means for First Quarter ANAM Performance 30 Table 3. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test for Total SSQ Scores 31 Table 4. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test for Disorientation SSQ Scores 32 Table 5. Mann Whitney U Test for Total SSQ Data 35 Table 6. Mann Whitney U Test for Disorientation SSQ Data 36 v List of Figures Figure 1. The Planes of the Semicircular Canals and Corresponding Aviation Axes 4 Figure 2. The Cupula of the Semicircular Canal 5 Figure 3. The Otoconia and Macula of an Otolith Organ 6 Figure 4. The General Aviation Trainer (GAT) II 20 Figure 5. Question-by-Question Graph of Mathematical Accuracy 29 Figure 6. Question-by-Question Graph of Mathematical Reaction Time 29 Figure 7. Effect of Countermeasure on Average Accuracy (First Quarter Math Trials) 34 Figure 8. Effect of Countermeasure on Mean Reaction Time (First Quarter Math Trials) 34 VI Quantifying the Cognitive 1 Introduction Humans are well prepared to ambulate on the ground, to swim underwater, even to swing through trees, somewhat. We rely on a complex interaction of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive cues to orient ourselves in space. However, we are not well prepared to remain coordinated and cognizant in the sustained, accelerated angular movements of powered flight. When humans are unable to perceive the position and motion of their bodies, they are spatially disoriented. With regard to aviation, spatial disorientation refers to a pilot's "failure to sense correctly the position, motion or attitude of his aircraft or of him/herself within the fixed coordinate system provided by the surface of the earth and the gravitational vertical" (Previc & Ercoline, 2004, p.l). When visual references are not available to pilots, they must rely on other bodily senses (which can easily misrepresent angular movement) to help them understand where they are located in space. Even birds, whose main form of locomotion is flight, are unable to fly safely when deprived of sight (DeHart and Davis, 2002). Consequences of spatial disorientation include headache, dizziness, confusion, even nausea and fatigue. It is one of the most common factors in fatal aircraft accidents. Statistics from the FAA estimate that 5-10% of general aviation accidents are due to pilot disorientation, and that 90% of those accidents are fatal (Previc & Ercoline, 2004). Statement of the Problem Most of the research focusing on spatial disorientation has relied practically exclusively on subjective reports. The present research sought to quantify the duration and severity of cognitive, physiological and subjective symptoms of spatial disorientation Quantifying the Cognitive 2 as induced by a spatial disorientation flight training device. The goal of this research was to provide a demonstration that these symptoms could be quantified in simulated flight such that the effectiveness of different countermeasures could be evaluated. The effects of a visual illusion were compared to those of a vestibular illusion. Also, the research examined if pre-exposure to a ground-based vestibular illusion would reduce the occurrence or severity of some symptoms and thus serve as an effective countermeasure. The ability to induce and measure symptoms associated with spatial disorientation, may lead to the development of more sophisticated countermeasures. Review of the Literature Spatial orientation. Humans rely mainly on three sensory systems for information about how they are positioned: the visual system, vestibular system, and proprioceptive system. Most of the information we use to orient our bodies comes from our eyes. In fact, we are often unaware of the other orienting systems until we are deprived of visual cues or are exposed to "unusual or prolonged forces" (Sanders & McCormick, 1993, p. 643). Without vision, "flight as we know if would be impossible" (DeHart & Davis, 2002, p. 189). A visual stimulus begins when visible light passes through the cornea, the pupil, and then the lens of the eye. The cornea and lens focus the light onto the retina, where the receptors (rods and cones) are located. These receptors generate electrical signals in response to the light. These signals are transmitted along various neurons to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is comprised of the axons of ganglion cells, the final common path of neurons that transmit the electrical signals created by the rods and cones. Quantifying the Cognitive 3 Eventually,