Title

Ataxia following exposure to a virtual environment

Authors

Authors

E. M. Kolasinski;R. D. Gilson

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Aviat. Space Environ. Med.

Keywords

ataxia; posture; virtual reality; virtual environment; POSTURAL EQUILIBRIUM TESTS; SIMULATOR SICKNESS; REALITY; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Medicine, General &; Internal; Sport Sciences

Abstract

Background: Virtual environment (VE) technology has many promising applications in a variety of areas that may likely lead to widespread use as technology progresses and cost decreases. Recent research has demonstrated that simulator sickness, a well-established effect of simulator exposure, can occur with VE exposure as well. Because ataxia (postural unsteadiness) is known to occur following simulator exposure, it might also occur following VE exposure. Simulator sickness and after-effects, such as ataxia, pose severe safety risks and raise serious liability questions. Method: A PC-based VE system was used to investigate the occurrence of ataxic decrements in postural stability following a 20-min exposure to a commercially available game. There were 20 male and 20 female undergraduate students who served as participants. Postural stability was assessed using a sensitive, reliable measure of stance involving the velocity of head movement sway along the y-axis. Data on the occurrence of simulator sickness were also collected. Based on findings in other simulators, ataxia was hypothesized to occur. Results: Ataxic decrements in postural stability were not found although simulator sickness did occur. Conclusions: Several possible factors possibly involved in the lack of ataxia were considered: statistical power; aspects of the postural test; participants' VE-adaptation, exposure time, and immersion position; and the task performed. Ataxia may not be associated with short exposures to VEs for asks which are not highly dynamic and individuals who are not experienced with the system.

Journal Title

Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine

Volume

70

Issue/Number

3

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

264

Last Page

269

WOS Identifier

WOS:000079015400010

ISSN

0095-6562

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