Research Finds Sound Stimulus Can Alleviate Motion Sickness in Electric Vehicles

According to foreign media reports, a research team led by Takumi Kagawa and Masashi Kato from Nagoya University's Graduate School of Medicine has discovered that using a 'unique sound stimulation technology'—a device that stimulates the inner ear with specific sound wavelengths—can alleviate motion sickness. Even just one minute of stimulation can reduce the swaying and discomfort experienced by individuals reading in moving vehicles. The related study was published in the journal 'Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine'. Researchers from Nagoya University report that listening to a stable 100 Hz tone for just one minute before traveling can significantly relieve dizziness and nausea symptoms that trouble many electric vehicle passengers. The team states that this low-tech audio segment can be downloaded to any smartphone and works effectively in driving simulators, real vehicles, and even amusement park swings. In 2024, over 13 million new electric vehicles are expected to hit the roads in China, while American consumers are projected to purchase a record 1.3 million electric vehicles in the same year. Millions of Americans (a number that continues to grow) require long-distance driving, making in-vehicle comfort an issue that cannot be ignored. Research indicates that the motion cues generated by electric vehicles differ slightly from those of gasoline vehicles, leading some drivers to experience sweating and nausea even after short commutes. The dynamic characteristics of electric vehicles disrupt the inner ear.