Effects of moderate motion sickness on estimation of task duration and performance on cognitive tasks

Abstract

While motion sickness (MS) is a well known concern, the effects of moderate levels of MS are still not understood. Marine workers are responsible for ensuring the safe and effective functioning of a ship, regardless of their reactions to an adverse environment. In effort to gain more insight into potential effects of moderate MS on operators, this thesis observed task performance and subject estimated task duration in two movement conditions, motion and no motion. -- Seventeen subjects performed various cognitive and psychometric task batteries in both 'Motion' and 'No Motion' conditions. Moderate levels of MS were contained throughout the two hour 'Motion' session. Estimation of time on task was recorded while performance of tasks was dependent upon response time and errors. Subjective task load data were also collected. An α of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance and although there was no evidence found at that level, statistical evidence suggests that there may an effect of moderate MS on estimation of time on task at the p<0.10 level. Cognitive task batteries gave little evidence of effect, however subjective task load was perceived as greater when the subject was experiencing moderate MS. Future research is needed to gain a complete understanding of how moderate MS effects task performance. -- Key Terms: motion sickness (MS); estimation of time on task (ETT); cognitive tasks; response time (RT); error percentage (EP).