Mechanism of cybersickness abatement from repeated exposure transfer between single-axis and complex motion scenarios

With the widespread adoption of virtual reality (VR) technology across various fields, motion sickness has become a growing concern. Prior studies suggested Cybersickness Abatement from Repeated Exposure (CARE) as a promising solution, yet CARE training typically targets only specific stimuli, its transferability and mechanisms remain unclear. This study seeks to determine whether CARE training on a single axis (pitch axis) using a TV screen can reduce visually induced motion sickness and, if so, whether this effect can be transferred to other axis movements or a rollercoaster game. Participants underwent 16-min daily pitch oscillation sessions via a 55-inch TV screen over five days. Oscillations on the yaw, roll, and pitch axes were measured pre- and post-training, alongside participants’ susceptibility to a multi-axis VR roller coaster simulation via a head-mounted display. Pitch axis CARE training effectively reduced cybersickness, with significant transfer to the yaw axis but limited effects on the roll axis. The CARE effect extended from single-axis TV training to complex VR scenarios. Furthermore, the severity of motion sickness in single-axis conditions predicted cybersickness in complex VR settings. This study confirms that pitch axis training can reduce cybersickness in varied environments. The results provide valuable insight for enhancing CARE protocols for using VR technologies.