DISORIENTATION AND POSTURAL ATAXIA FOLLOWING FLIGHT SIMULATION

Background: Motion sickness-like symptoms can afflict pilots training in military simulators. This simulator sickness involves symptoms of g astrointestinal distress, eyestrain and disorientation. A Simulator Si ckness Questionnaire (SSQ) with subscales available for each of these dimensions has been developed to assess the problem. Hypothesis: This study examined the hypothesis that there is a strong correlation betwe en the SSQ subscale which summarizes self report of disorientation sym ptoms and an objective measure of post-simulation postural instability . Methods: Data from two Navy simulators were analyzed: Device 2F114, a Weapon Systems Trainer for the A-6E Intruder; and Device 2F143, an O perational Flight Trainer for the EA-6B. Tests of standing and walking unsteadiness were administered along with the Simulator Sickness Ques tionnaire (SSQ). Results: Significant correlations were found between scores on postural stability tests and the SSQ disorientation subscale scores, but correlations between scores on postural stability tests a nd the SSQ nausea and oculomotor subscale scores were much weaker and not statistically significant. Conclusions: These results provide some evidence for the validity of the disorientation subscale of the SSQ a nd suggest that the postural instability observed after simulator expo sure may, in fact, result from disorientation.