Reading books in a moving vehicle is an effective way to pass the time. However, for some individuals, reading in a car can lead to motion sickness.
According to Science Focus, about one-third of the population is susceptible to motion sickness. Children aged 2-12, the elderly, individuals with migraines, and pregnant women are at higher risk.
Not everyone can read in a moving vehicle – (Photo: Insider).
To understand why reading in a moving car can cause motion sickness for some people, Insider spoke with neurologist Dr. Ooha Susmita.
The primary cause is sensory conflict. Sensory conflict occurs due to a disconnect between the systems responsible for balance and spatial orientation, or “the conflict between the information received by the eyes and the ears.”
According to Dr. Susmita, the brain thinks you are moving because it detects motion through the ears, while the eyes are focused on a stationary object.
“This creates a sensory conflict. The eyes send signals indicating no movement, which contradicts the signals from the ears that detect motion and changes in direction.
This sensory conflict disrupts the body’s normal sense of balance and can lead to symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, sweating, and sometimes vomiting,” the doctor told Insider.
Reading requires concentration and good visual tracking, which exacerbates the sensory conflict phenomenon.
This phenomenon is not limited to individuals reading in cars; it can also occur when sitting in the back of a motorcycle, on boats, or in spacecraft.
However, not everyone experiences this sensation. The sensitivity to these issues varies from person to person.
