Scientists have found that music can help with motion sickness - but not any kind of music

A new study conducted by Chinese neurophysiologists shows that music can be a safe and affordable alternative - if you choose the right tune. This is reported by the publication Frontiers.

Experiment in a driving simulator

Researchers from Southwestern University in China, led by Dr Qiqun Yue, developed a special driving simulator to induce symptoms of motion sickness in participants. Forty people took part in the experiment. They tested different routes in the simulator to determine which ones were most likely to induce motion sickness. Then 30 participants with a moderate susceptibility to motion sickness were selected for the main phase.

The participants wore EEG caps to record brain activity. They were divided into 6 groups: four listened to different types of music, one received no musical accompaniment, and another - the control group - left the simulator as soon as the first signs of nausea appeared.

Which tunes really work?

After completing the "ride" in the simulator, participants listened to music for 60 seconds. Then they rated their condition. The results were surprising:

• Cheerful music reduced motion sickness symptoms by 57.3 per cent;

• Soft (calm) music - by 56.7 per cent;

• Passionate music - by 48.3%;

• Sad music - by only 40%, which is even worse than without music(43.3% in the control group).

Thus, listening to joyful or relaxing tunes proved to be the most effective way to alleviate the condition.

What the EEG measurements revealed

The electroencephalogram revealed important changes in the occipital lobe of the brain. When motion sickness occurred, activity in this area became less complex. The faster the participant recovered, the closer the readings returned to normal. The scientists suggest that:

• Soft music helps relieve the tension that exacerbates symptoms;

• Cheerful music activates "pleasure centres" in the brain and distracts from discomfort;

• Sad music, on the other hand, can intensify negative emotions.

What's next

The authors emphasise that the sample was small and further research is needed, especially in real-life travel settings. They also plan to study the influence of music preferences and look at motion sickness not only in cars, but also on aeroplanes and ships.

Nevertheless, Dr Yue is confident: "Our results suggest that people who experience motion sickness while travelling can use cheerful or soft music as an effective way to relieve symptoms."