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Chapter 5: Problem 34

Many people experience nausea while traveling in a car, plane, or boat. How might you explain this as a function of sensory interaction?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Motion sickness may be explained as a function of sensory interaction. When our senses send conflicting information to our brain, such as our eyes seeing a stationary environment (inside of a moving vehicle) but our inner ear sensing motion, it can cause discomfort or nausea, commonly known as motion sickness.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Sensory Interaction

Start with understanding the concept of sensory interaction. It is the principle that one sense may influence another. When senses do not align, it may cause feelings of discomfort or illness. For instance, the interaction between eyes (which may see a stationary environment, like the interior of a vehicle) and the inner ears (which sense the motion of the vehicle) might cause motion sickness.
02

Explain the Role of the Visual System

The visual system provides information about the surroundings. While travelling in a vehicle, the eyes might perceive the immediate surroundings, such as the interior of a car, to be stationary.
03

Explain the Role of the Vestibular System

Then, focus on the vestibular system, a sensory system responsible for providing our brain with information about motion, head position, and spatial orientation. It also contributes to motor functions that allow us to keep our balance, stabilize our head and body during movement, and maintain posture. However, when we're in a moving vehicle, this system senses motion.
04

Describe the Effect of Conflicting Signals

When the visual and vestibular systems send conflicting information to the brain - the eyes seeing a stationary environment but the inner ears sensing movement - it results in the individual feeling unwell. This is because our brain is getting conflicting messages from our different sensory systems, causing confusion and potentially leading to motion sickness symptoms.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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