Do Not Immerse and Drive? Prolonged Effects of Cybersickness on Physiological Stress Markers And Cognitive Performance

TL;DR

This study shows that VR-induced cybersickness causes prolonged physiological stress and cognitive impairments, with symptoms peaking up to 90 minutes after exposure, raising safety concerns for VR use.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the extended effects of cybersickness on stress markers and cognitive function, emphasizing the need for longer recovery periods in VR research and applications.

Findings

Physiological stress markers remain elevated for 90 minutes post-VR exposure.

Working memory performance declines after cybersickness.

Delayed symptom peaks suggest prolonged recovery time.

Abstract

Extended exposure to virtual reality environments can induce motion sickness, often referred to as cybersickness, which may lead to physiological stress responses and impaired cognitive performance. This study investigates the aftereffects of VR-induced motion sickness with a focus on physiological stress markers and working memory performance. Using a carousel simulation to elicit cybersickness, we assessed subjective discomfort (SSQ, FMS), physiological stress (salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, electrodermal activity, heart rate), and cognitive performance (n-Back task) over a 90-minute post-exposure period. Our findings demonstrate a significant increase in both subjective and physiological stress indicators following VR exposure, accompanied by a decline in working memory performance. Notably, delayed symptom progression was observed in a substantial proportion of participants, with some reporting peak symptoms up to 90 minutes post-stimulation. Salivary cortisol levels remained elevated throughout the observation period, indicating prolonged stress recovery. These results highlight the need for longer washout phases in XR research and raise safety concerns for professional applications involving post-exposure task performance.