Motion and space sickness: intestinal and autonomic correlates.
Eric R Muth
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16950658/Actively Recruiting
Led by 59th Medical Wing · Updated on 2025-08-15
36
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
Researchers are studying how a wearable nerve stimulation device called the Sparrow Ascent System12 affects spatial disorientation and motion sickness in healthy adults. Spatial disorientation happens when the bodys sense of position conflicts with actual location, involving the inner ear, eyes, body sense, and brain. This can lead to motion sickness, especially in people not used to motion. The device stimulates nerves around the ear that are linked to nausea and other sensations and is already approved by the FDA for other conditions. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups one receiving active stimulation from the Sparrow Ascent System12 and the other receiving a sham inactive version of the device that looks the same but provides no stimulation. During the study, participants will face motion challenges including tasks in an electronic flight simulator and spinning in a rotating chair while their vital signs are monitored. The stimulation settings can be adjusted for comfort. Throughout the study, participants will undergo tests before, during, and after motion challenges to assess symptoms and performance. These include questionnaires about how they feel, tasks measuring coordination and reaction time, and continuous monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure. The main measure is the Graybiel Scale recorded at multiple times after challenges. The study monitors safety and lasts through the motion challenges and assessments, with data collected up to 90 minutes after.
CONDITIONS
Evaluation of a Device to Reduce Motion Sickness and Spatial Disorientation
I
Isaac D Erbele, MD, ENT
C
Craig D Nowadly, MD
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59th Medical Wing
Lead Sponsor
Defense Health Agency
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | Active Device (Sparrow Ascent) | Sham Device |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A wearable device (Sparrow Ascent) delivering electrical stimulation to auricular (ear) regions targeting the vagus and trigeminal nerve areas, intended to modulate neural pathways linked to motion sickness. | An identical-appearing device that does not deliver active neurostimulation, used as a sham control to maintain masking of treatment assignment. |
| Role in the trial | Evaluated for its ability to reduce symptoms of motion sickness and spatial disorientation during controlled experimental challenges. | Serves as the control arm to assess the effects of participant expectation and non-specific device procedures. |
| Primary use or purpose | Prevention and reduction of motion sickness symptoms in individuals exposed to conditions that provoke spatial disorientation, such as simulated movement environments. | Placebo comparator; mimics the device experience to control for bias but does not actively target any physiological pathways. |
| How it is given or performed | Device is placed on specified regions of the ear. Delivers preset electrical pulses (15 Hz at cymba concha, 100 Hz anterior to the tragus; 250 μs pulse duration, mA intensity set by user comfort). | Applied similarly to the ear regions, but settings do not deliver active stimulation (no electrical pulses), |
| What is already known from studies | Related research suggests that various forms of transcutaneous electrical stimulation—including auricular and acustimulation approaches—can reduce symptoms of motion sickness in healthy subjects. These modalities have shown significant improvements over placebo in experimental settings, but the evidence for specific device configurations remains limited and mechanism-specific. | No evidence of symptom improvement, as sham devices mimic device procedures but do not deliver physiologically active stimulation. |
| Important limitations | Evidence base is limited to small experimental studies in healthy adults; long-term effects, real-world effectiveness, and outcomes in populations who experience frequent motion sickness are not well established. Optimal stimulation parameters for prevention require further study. | Does not provide motion sickness prevention and may introduce bias if masking is imperfect. Sham devices are limited to experimental use and have no application outside controlled research. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
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Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants are given a wearable nerve stimulation device, either active or sham, and undergo spatial disorientation and motion sickness challenges including an electronic flight simulator and a rotating chair. Vital signs are monitored continuously during the study day.
1 in-person visit lasting the study day
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36841838/59th Medical Wing
Lead Sponsor
Defense Health Agency
Collaborating Sponsor